WO2005016714A1

WO2005016714A1 - Scraping/cleaning device

Info

Publication number: WO2005016714A1
Application number: PCT/ES2003/000423
Authority: WO
Inventors: Raúl DELGADO ACARRETA
Original assignee: Delgado Acarreta Raul
Priority date: 2003-08-13
Filing date: 2003-08-13
Publication date: 2005-02-24
Also published as: AU2003260514A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a scraping/cleaning device. The inventive device comprises: a brush support (11) housing a cleaning brush, and at least one channel (12, 14) having a grooved transverse section. According to the invention, each of the walls of the channel are folded and extend backwards into the channel, such as to leave an adequate space for the insertion of a support part. In this way, one of the ends of the aforementioned support part can be housed in the channel (12, 14), while the other end thereof can be brought into contact with the surface of the windscreen with the aid of a rubbing means which is designed to remove solid residues such as insects that are stuck to the surface of the windscreen and/or a scraping means which is designed to remove ice that forms on said surface.

Description

M ASPOSTTIVO R ASPAfíOR V TIMPTAfíOR

ORTFTO n T.A INVENCIÓN

[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning and scraping device for glass attached to a vehicle body, which allows the removal of solid residues adhering to the glass surface, in addition to sweeping the water on said glass surface.

[0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to a windscreen wiper device suitable for cleaning and scratching the surface of a front and / or rear windshield of a vehicle in order to remove solid residues adhering to a surface of the windscreen wiper and, furthermore, , sweep the water deposited on said surface of the windshield.

FSTAfíO nF I, A TFCNT

[0003] Currently, all motor vehicles have a device to sweep the water deposited on a surface of a front or rear windshield, known as a windshield wiper in order to facilitate visibility through said glazed surface and, therefore, facilitate driving of the vehicle safely both for the occupants of the vehicle and for the other users of the road on which the vehicle circulates.

[0004] Said wiper device comprises a motor connected to one end of an arm that at the other end is connected to a support to which a material suitable for sweeping the water deposited on a surface of the windshield is fixed, namely a wiper blade suitable for sweep the water deposited on the surface of the windshield.

[0005] The windscreen wiper devices include one or two rubber strips with which the function of sweeping water and cleaning solid residues adhering to it is performed. This second function is not performed correctly, that is, they are not capable of completely removing solid residues deposited on the surface of the windshield. In addition, trying to remove such solid debris requires the use of a large amount of water and normally requires the driver's attention, therefore the driver distracts his attention from the road, as a result his safety may be adversely affected.

[0006] The current wiper devices are ineffective in the task of scraping the ice adhering to said surfaces. This task must be carried out manually from outside the vehicle.

[0007] Also, the windshield wipers are ineffective in removing solid residues adhering to the surface of the windshield from, for example, the impact of insects, mud or the like, which are not swept away by the action of the wiper blade when the wiper device is working.

[0008] Accordingly, a problem with such a wiper device is that it is unable to fully dislodge solid particles adhering to a surface of the wiper. As a result, the driver's field of vision of the vehicle can be reduced and therefore the safety of the driver can also be reduced, as well as the safety of other road or road users.

[0009] Therefore, it is necessary to propose a suitable cleaning and scraping device for sweeping and removing both liquids and solids deposited and / or adhering on the surface of a windshield of a motor vehicle. CHARACTERIZATION fí T.A TNVFNCIÓN

[0010] The brush holder of the present invention is adapted to house a cleaning brush suitable for cleaning the water deposited on a surface of a windshield of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one channel with a ribbed shape in cross section and having each one of its channel walls extended and bent backwards in a re-incoming way so that they leave a suitable space so that a support piece can be embedded, so that one of its ends can be housed in the channel and its other The end may come into contact with the surface of the windscreen through a suitable scrubbing means to remove solid residues such as insects adhering to the surface of the windscreen, and / or a suitable scraping means to remove ice formed on the surface of the windscreen.

[0011] The device of the present invention is advantageous in that it allows independent control of the cleaning and removal functions of solid residues adhering to the surface of the windshield of a motor vehicle. [0012] Yet another object of the invention is to facilitate the driving of a motor vehicle. BRIEF STATEMENT OF TAS FTfiURAS

[0013] A more detailed explanation of the invention is given in the following description based on the attached figures, in which: Figure 1 is an elevation view of a brush holder according to the invention, Figure 2 is a plan and elevation view of an arm to which it is attached to the brush holder according to the invention, figure 3 is a perspective and elevation view of a cleaning brush and of a cleaning and scraping means according to the invention , Figure 4 is a perspective and elevation view of a pneumatic drive means according to the invention, and Figure 5 is an elevation view of the cleaning means in various operating configurations according to the invention.

EA DESCRTPCTÓN TNVKN TÓN [0014] In relation to Figures 1 and 2, a brush holder 11 of a cleaning and scraping device that is connected to one end of an arm 21 by means of a first mechanical fixing means (not shown) , the other end of arm 21 is connected to a motor by means of a second mechanical fixing means (not shown). [0015] Now in relation to Figures 1 and 3, as it is known in the state of the art, the brush holder 11 includes a central channel or groove 13 in cross section that has the ends of its channel walls extended and bent towards the center of the channel 13 as shown in FIG. 1, suitably to house a wiper blade 33 which, under normal circumstances, pushes against the surface of a windshield of a motor vehicle so that the wiper blade 33 is in contact cleaner with the glass surface, being able to carry out a controllable cleaning action. Therefore, the cleaning brush 33 removes moisture, dust, etc. of the glass surface. The brush holder 11 can be extruded or molded from plastic or a similar material. [0016] The brush holder 11 can also comprise a series of elements, first 12 and second 14 identical, separated and attached to the channel 13 that extends along its length, therefore, arranged side by side along the length of channel 13.

[0017] Each element 12, 14 is generally grooved in cross section and each of its channel walls is extended and bent backwards re-inbound as shown in Figure 1 so as to leave a Adequate space for a series of support pieces 51 to be embedded in the H-shaped cross section rotated 90 ° degrees as shown in Figure 5, so that one of the horizontal bars of the rotated H-shape can be housed In either channel 12, 14 and the other, under certain circumstances, it contacts the scraper surface with the windshield through a V-shaped cross-section scraping means 32, for example, as shown in Figure 3, being able to carry out a controllable scraping action in order to remove ice deposited on the surface of the windshield. Said scraping can be facilitated, because the contact surface of the scraper 32 with the surface of the windshield has a sawtooth shape. [0018] Obviously, the scraper 32 is made of a material that can remove ice from the surface of the windshield and without scratching or damaging the surface thereof.

[0019] The scraper 32 and the first H-shaped support 51 can be joined by a fixing means such as an adherent material to fix the scraper 32 to one end of the first support piece. [0020] The first support 51 is made of an elastic material such as rubber or plastic, so that the scraper 32, which extends along the length of the channel 12, 14, adapts perfectly to the surface of the windshield.

[0021] In certain circumstances, the support 51 and the scraper 32 can be made in a single piece and, therefore, said piece has a cleaning edge.

[0022] In relation to Figures 1, 4 and 5, inside the channel 12, 14 between the channel bottom wall and the opposite end of the first support 51 that presses on the surface of the windshield, extends along the channel length 12, 14 a first pneumatic control means 41 made of a flexible material defining a closed tube, air-tight, hollow, flexible-walled chamber as shown in Figure 4, having an expanded state and a been contracted and being movable between the two states by changing the gas or air pressure within it, so that scraper 32 is movable between the scraper contact and a position of rest or normal, that is, not scratching and, therefore, not in contact with the surface of the windshield, when the first chamber 41 moves between its two expanded and contracted states, respectively.

[0023] A control and command means (not shown) can be actuated by an occupant of the vehicle, to controllably and independently alter the pressure within the first chamber 41.

[0024] A compressor (not shown) controlled by the control and command means, can inject air at a pressure higher than atmospheric, that is, compressed air inside chamber 41 to keep the scraper edge in scraping contact with the surface. the windshield.

[0025] In these circumstances, the wiper blade 33 may be in contact with the surface of the windshield. In summary, in both states of the first chamber 41, the cleaning brush 33 may be in cleaning contact with the surface of the windshield. [0026] Once the materials adhering to the surface of the windshield have been removed, the driver acting on the control unit can suck in the air that chamber 41 has expanded in order to obtain the relaxed state of said chamber 41. Consequently , the control means sends the corresponding command to the compressor and the scraper edge is no longer in scraper contact with the surface of the windshield. That is, the chamber 41 is contracted and moves the scraper edge out of contact with the surface of the windscreen and the wiper blade 33 contacts or remains in contact with said surface of the windscreen.

[0027] In summary, the scraper 32 is mounted on an external wall of a support 51 that is in contact, at its other end, with the first inflatable chamber 41 in order to be movable, approaching and moving away from the surface of a glass attached to the body of the motor vehicle.

[0028] To ensure that the scraper 32 is no longer in contact with the glass surface, elastic means 52 such as a spring, spring or the like, can regain their resting position when the first chamber 41 is contracted. This is accomplished by reducing the pressure within the first chamber 41, so that chamber 41 is flattened and the scraper edge is moved out of contact with the surface of the windshield. Thus, when the first chamber 41 is inflated by means of compressed air, the force of the spring 52 is overcome and, consequently, the scraper 32 comes into scratching contact with the surface of the windshield.

[0029] The spring 52 is housed in the gaps that are formed between the vertical walls of the channel 12, 14 and the re-entering channel walls and the vertical plane of the first support 51 that is in contact with the first chamber 41, such as shown in figure 5.

[0030] A scrubbing and rubbing means 31 comes into scrubbing and rubbing contact with the surface of the windshield, see Figures 1, 3 and 5. Said scrubbing means 31 can carry out a controllable scrubbing and scrubbing action in order to to remove solid particles deposited on the surface of the windshield. Similarly, to the scraper 32, the scrubbing means 31 is fixed to a second bracket identical to the first bracket 51, which can be housed in any of the channels 12, 14. Obviously, if the scraper 32 is housed by the bracket 51 in the channel 12, the scrubbing means 31 is housed in channel 14 by means of another support 51 or vice versa. [0031] Also, the scrubbing means 31 is made of a material that can remove said solid particles from the surface of the windshield and without scratching or damaging the surface thereof.

[0032] The scrubber 31 and the second bracket 51 may be joined by an attachment means such as a sticky material to attach the scrubber to one end of the bracket 51.

[0033] In certain circumstances, the support 51 and the scrubbing means 31 can be made in one piece and, therefore, the support 51 has a scrubbing edge. It should be noted that the brush holder can simultaneously include the scraper 32 and the scrubbing means 31. [0034] Similarly, in relation to Figures 1, 4 and 5, within the corresponding channel 12, 14 between the bottom wall of the channel and the opposite end of the support 51 pressing on the surface of the windshield, it extends along of the length of the channel 12, 14 another pneumatic control means 41 as shown in figure 4, having an expanded state and a contracted state and being movable between the two states by changing the pressure of gas or air within it, to In order for the scrubber 31 to be movable between the scrubbing contact and a normal or rest position, that is, not scrubbing and, therefore, not in contact with the surface of the windscreen, when the second chamber 41 moves between its two states expanded and to be scratched or scrubbed, both chambers 41 are deflated to a contracted state.

[0043] If either or both scraper or scrub edges were not controllable by the first and second chambers respectively, but were continuously compressed against the windshield glass with relatively large pressure, the force required to move the brush holder would be increased .

[0044] The swelling and deflation of both the first and second chambers can be manually controlled by the driver. Instead, however, one or more of these operations can be automatically controlled. For example, in the case where the start of the windscreen wiper is governed by the action of a rain sensor, the activation of the compressor to deflate the chambers may be automatically arranged to deflate the corresponding chamber in order to move the device to the configuration. where the wiper blade is in cleaning contact with the glass surface. This configuration of the wiper and wiper device is adopted when the glass of the windscreen is covered by drops of water coming from the rain, for example.

[0045] Thus having the expansions and contractions of the two chambers 41, it is possible to control the movement of the scraper edge and the scrub edge.

contracted, respectively.

[0035] When the scrubbing and rubbing operation has been completed, the pressure within the second chamber 41 is decreased so that it returns to the idle or contracted state, with the wiper blade 33 in wiper contact with the glass surface and the scrubber 31 means separated from the windshield glass.

[0036] Likewise, the control and command means can be actuated by an occupant of the vehicle, to controllably and independently alter the pressure within the second chamber 41 that moves the scrubbing means 31.

[0037] In both states of the second chamber 41, the wiper blade may be in cleaning contact with the surface of the windshield.

[0038] Likewise, the driver acting on the command and control unit can suck in the air that has expanded the second chamber in order to obtain the relaxed state of said chamber. Consequently, the control means sends the corresponding command to the compressor and the scrubbing edge is no longer scrubbing contact with the glass surface. That is, the second chamber is collapsed and moves the rubbing edge out of contact with the glass surface and the wiper blade 33 contacts or remains in contact with said surface of the windshield.

In summary, the scrubbing means 31 is mounted on an external wall of an inflatable chamber in order to be movable approaching, and moving away from, the surface of a pane attached to the vehicle body.

[0040] Similarly, to ensure that the scrubbing medium is no longer in contact with the glass surface, a spring 52 can regain its resting position when the second chamber 41 is contracted. That is, when the second chamber is inflated by means of compressed air, the spring force is overcome and, consequently, the scrubbing medium 31 comes into rubbing contact with the surface of the windshield.

[0041] To assist in this scrubbing action, the vehicle occupant, through the control unit installed in the vehicle's interior, can cause water alone or together with a soapy substance to be projected onto the surface of the windshield, which It will facilitate the release action of substances attached to the windshield.

[0042] In summary, both first and second chambers are connected to a source of pressure or air aspiration. When a windshield surface must not

Claims

RFTVTNDTΓA TONFS

1. Brush holder suitable for a windshield of a vehicle, characterized in that the brush holder (11) comprises at least one channel (12, 14) ribbed in cross-section and having each of its channel walls extended and folded back in a re-entrant manner so that they leave adequate space for a support piece (51) to be embedded, so that one of its ends can be housed in the channel (12, 14), and its other end may come into contact with the windshield surface.

2. Brush holder according to claim 1; by entering the support piece (51) in contact with the surface of the windshield through a scratch means (32) in a V-shaped cross-section, which can carry out a controllable scraping action.

3. Brush holder according to claim 2; the scraping means 32 having a scraping edge in the form of saw teeth.

4. Brush holder according to claim 1; the support part (51) coming into contact with the surface of the windshield through a scrubbing means 32 which can carry out a controllable scrubbing action.

5. Brush holder according to any of claims 2 and 4; moving the support part (51) by means of a pneumatic control means (41).

6. Brush holder according to claim 5; the control means (41) having an expanded state and a contracted state and being movable between the two states by changing the gas or air pressure inside the control means (41).

7. Brush holder according to claim 6; the control means (41) being a flexible wall chamber.

8. Brush holder according to claims 2 and 7; the scraping means (32) entering scraper contact with the surface of the windshield, when the chamber (41) moves from its contracted state to its expanded state.

9. Brush holder according to claims 4 and 7; the scrubbing means (31) coming into scrubber contact with the windshield surface, when the chamber (41) moves from its contracted state to its expanded state.

10. Brush holder according to claims 8 and 9; understanding the brush holder (11) a control means to control and control independently the pressure inside two chambers (41) each mounted (41) within a channel (12, 14), respectively, so that the movement of any of them (41) between their states is produced without affecting the other of the cameras (41).

11. Brush holder according to claims 10; a brush (33) being able to be in cleaning contact with the surface of the windshield, at the same time as the scrubbing means (31) or the scraping means (32), or both (31, 32).

12. A suitable cleaning and scraping device for a motor vehicle comprising a brush holder according to claims 1 to 11.