WO2006048355A1

WO2006048355A1 - Wiper blade

Info

Publication number: WO2006048355A1
Application number: PCT/EP2005/054554
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wolfgang Leutsch; Jan Dietrich; Hans Braun; Christian Wilms; Peter De Block; Hubert Verelst; Paul Wynen; Liesbet Van Vinckenroye; Kris Van De Rostyne
Original assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbh
Priority date: 2004-11-05
Filing date: 2005-09-13
Publication date: 2006-05-11
Also published as: DE202004020356U1; DE102004058688A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a wiper blade (10) comprising a wiper strip (24) that is provided with a wiping wedge (38) and a wiper strip rear (34) which are interconnected via a tilting point (41). At least one soft cushion (46) is disposed in the area of the tilting point (41).

Description

wiper blade

State of the art

The invention relates to a wiper blade according to the preamble of the independent claim. In the case of such wiper blades with a spring-band-like support element, this is intended to ensure the most uniform possible distribution of the wiper blade contact pressure on the window starting from the wiper arm over the entire wiping area swept by the wiper blade. By a corresponding predetermined curvature of the unloaded support element - so if the wiper blade rests only with its two ends on the disc - the ends of the wiper blade completely applied to the disc wiper strip are loaded by the then tensioned support member to the disc, even if the Change radii of curvature of spherically curved vehicle windows at each wiper position. The curvature of the wiper blade must therefore be somewhat stronger than the strongest curvature measured in the wiping field on the windshield to be wiped, because during wiper operation the wiper strip or its adjoining the windshield

Wiper lip, always with a certain force must press against the disc. The support element thus replaces the elaborate mounting bracket construction with two arranged in the wiper strip spring rails, as practiced in conventional wiper blades (DE-OS 15 05 397). The support element causes not only the distribution of the contact pressure but also the necessary transverse reinforcement of the rubber-elastic wiper strip.

In the known wiper blade exerted by a wiper arm on a main bar, directed to the disc bearing force is transmitted to two claw straps and distributed by these four claws on the rubber-elastic wiper strip.

In wiper blades with resilient support elements, the support element has a

Spring elasticity in the direction of the vehicle window and a certain bending stiffness in Direction of the swipe on. In working position, the wiper blade is loaded in the direction of the vehicle window through the contact force of the wiper arm, wherein the wiper lip rests against the vehicle window.

When wiping a force generated by the pivoting force acts laterally on the

Gummiprofϊl. While the wiper blade back is moved by the lateral force, the wiper lip initially remains in its position. Due to its high elastic deformability, the thin web between the wiper strip back and the wiper wedge acts as a tilting joint, so that the wiper lip on the wedge wedge approximately assumes an angle of attack of 55 degrees to the glass surface. This towing position is the working position of the

Wiper lip. The wiper is tilted in this position as far as it rests with its outer upper shoulder on the underside of the wiper strip back. Due to the oscillating wiping movement of the windshield wipers, reversal points result in the end positions of the movement. Here, the wiper works in the opposite direction and then takes back a dragged working position. Through this

Umklappvorgang arises especially in wiper blades with a resilient support element an annoying flip-over noise. In addition, the squeegee is very much elastically deformed in the area of the tilting bridge. This leads to a permanent deformation of the wiper blade profile in the course of the operating time, which at first only affects the wiping action of the windscreen wiper, but later can even prevent the folding over.

From DE 9104461.8 Ul a wiper strip is known in which a damping strip is provided between the wiper strip back and the abutting shoulder of the wiper. When the wiper wedge of the wiper strip folds over at the reversal point, the shoulder first strikes against the damping strip and pushes it until it rests against the wiper strip back. As a result, the impact speed is slowed down and the noise attenuated when folding. In wiper blades with elastic support elements, however, this damping is not always sufficient. In particular, with very long wiper blades, the Umklappgeräusch disturbing.

Advantages of the invention

The wiper blade with the features of the main claim has the advantage that a soft cushion allows the tilting movement as such, the impact of opposing

However, it is able to absorb shoulders softly. This is a damped braked Movement created. While in the prior art, the folding-over is divided by the additional damping strips in two individual noises, due to the soft pad in the best case, no Umklappgeräusch. This can be done by the initial resistance of the soft pad is very low, so that the impinging shoulder gently dips, or in that the soft pad touches the shoulder already at the beginning of the folding movement. In the latter case, a flip-over noise is already prevented in the beginning.

The features listed in the dependent claims advantageous refinements of the wiper blade are given according to the main claim. By the

Arrangement of a tilting ridge, the tilting movement takes place at a defined point or along a defined line. In addition, the soft pad is spared, since the tilting bridge largely absorbs the mechanical forces such as contact pressure or tensile force over the disc.

Since the tilting ridge is flanked by two grooves whose groove base form the tilting ridge, as a rule, it is advantageous to accommodate the soft cushion at least in one groove. The groove can be filled to save material only partially or completely. If the groove is only partially filled, it is advantageous to provide the soft padding partially on a surface or an edge, in the area of which the folding-over noise arises. If the overturning noise is only noticeable in a reversal position, it is also possible to completely or partially fill a groove with a soft cushion in order to save material. In general, however, the pads are attached to both grooves.

In wiper blades with multiple grooves on top of each other, it is advantageous if all the grooves are assigned soft upholstery. This prevents all possible folding noise. If the upholstery is arranged across the entire surface, a self-sustaining bond is created.

The soft pad can be kept in that it is at least partially completely enclosed by the material of the wiper blade rubber. This also results in a protection of the soft cushion against environmental influences. This protection is improved when the soft pad is completely covered.

If the wiper strip back is connected with the wiper directly over the soft padding, the soft padding takes over the tasks of the usual tilting bridge. The soft pad can partially or completely fill the area between the wiper strip back and the wiper. The folding process is thus harmonious and fluid, so that Umklappgeräusche are already avoided in the beginning.

In a simple way, the soft pad is extruded together with the squeegee. It may be extruded as an additional material or admixed with the squeegee material. In the event that the material of the soft cushion can be extruded unfavorably, it can also be glued or glued. An optimal filling results when the soft pad is filled in the at least one groove and cures there.

drawing

In the drawing show

FIG. 1 shows a wiper blade according to the invention in a perspective illustration with a wiper arm indicated by dash-dotted lines,

Figure 2 is a section along line II-II in Figure 1 and the

FIGS. 3 to 11 show different variants of a wiper rubber profile according to the invention in section, analogously to FIG. 2.

Description of the embodiments

An illustrated in Fig. 1 wiper blade 10 has a band-like elongated, resilient, one or more parts supporting element 12, which in unloaded

Condition is curved in the longitudinal direction. At the side facing away from the disc 14 to be wiped convex upper or outer band side 16 of the support member is disposed in the central portion thereof, for example, surface adjacent to this terminal device 18, with the help of the wiper blade 10 with a guided on the bodywork of a motor vehicle, driven wiper arm 20th can be releasably connected.

An elongated, rubber-elastic wiper strip 24, which extends longitudinally parallel to the support element 12, is arranged on the concave lower or inner band surface or band side 22 of the curved support element 12 facing the disc. At the free end of the wiper arm counter-connection means not shown in detail are provided, which with the connection device 18 of the wiper blade in the sense of

Joint work together. The wiper arm 20 and thus also the wiper blade 10 are loaded in the direction of the arrow 26 to be wiped disc, the surface to be wiped is indicated in Fig. 1 by the dotted line 14. Since the dotted line is to represent the strongest curvature of the disk surface, it is clear that the

Curvature of the voltage applied to the disc 14 with its ends 10 ', still unloaded wiper blade 10 is stronger than the maximum disc curvature. It has - unloaded - so opposite the disc a concave course. Under the contact pressure (arrow 26), the wiper blade 10, with its wiper blade 28 performing the wiping work, lays against the disk surface 14 over its entire length and changes into a working position which approximates the extended position. In the process, a tension builds up in the band-like, spring-elastic support element 12, which ensures a proper contact of the wiper strip 24 or its wiper lip 28 over its entire length on the vehicle window 14. Because the usually spherically curved disc does not represent a section of a spherical surface, the wiper blade 10 must be able to constantly adapt to the respective position and the course of the disc surface 14 relative to the wiper arm 20 during its wiping movement (double arrow 30). Therefore, a pivotal movement (double arrow 32) about the hinge axis of the connection connection enabling articulated connection between wiper arm 20 and wiper blade 10 is necessary.

In Figure 2, the wiper blade 10 is shown in section. It can be seen that the support member 12 consists of two individual spring rails that receive the wiper strip 24 between them. For this purpose, the wiper strip 24 has a wiper strip back 34 with first longitudinal grooves 36, in which the rails of the support element 12 are embedded. Both the support element 12 and the wiper strip back 34 are overlapped by a Windabweisleiste 38.

The wiper strip 24 has second longitudinal grooves 40 which separate the wiper strip back 34 via a tilting region 41 of a wiper wedge 42, on the underside of which

Wiper lip 28 is formed. During the wiping operation, the wiper blade 10 is moved back and forth along the double arrow 30, so that the wiper lip 28 is pulled over the disc 14. Depending on the direction of movement, wiper wedge 42 is placed in a drag position, which causes the second longitudinal grooves 40 to be reduced in size on one side and widened on the other side, the second longitudinal groove 40 being completely closed in the region of the reduction. At the time of transferring the Wiper wedge 42 consequently strikes one of the longitudinal edges 44 on an underside of the wiper strip back 34. This creates a clearly audible sound.

In at least one longitudinal groove 40 is now a soft pad 46, which dampens the folding movement at the time of folding the wiper wedge 42, so that there is little or no audible stop of the longitudinal edges 44 on the underside of the wiper strip back 34.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, the wiper strip back 34 is connected to the wiper wedge 42 via a tilting web 48. The second longitudinal grooves 40 extend on both sides of the tilting web 48 in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade 10. The tilting web 48 thus forms a pivot point or a tilting line for the Umklappbewegung. On both sides of the tilting ridge 48, the second longitudinal grooves 40 are filled with soft pads 46, so that the folding movement are damped at both reversal points of the wiping movement.

The wiper strip back 34 has recesses 50 in the region of the tilting web 48, which form undercuts with respect to the second longitudinal grooves 40 and which allow the soft pads 46 to hold securely. Further, the wiper strip back 34 has third longitudinal grooves 52, which are arranged relative to the second longitudinal grooves 40 further away from the disc 14 and under extreme conditions also on

Tilting process are involved. Soft upholstery 46 are also arranged in these third longitudinal grooves 52.

In the figures 3 to 10 variants for wiper strip 24 of Figure 2 are shown, wherein the same positions are provided with the same reference numerals.

In Figure 3 soft pads 46 are arranged in the second longitudinal grooves 40 so that the course of the outer surfaces 54 are taken up by the outer sides of the soft pads 46 and continued to the outer sides of the wiper strip back 34. This results in a harmonious appearance, which also

Moisture as well as ice and snow provides less penetration possibilities.

In Figure 4, in addition to the second longitudinal grooves 40 and the third longitudinal grooves 52 are filled with soft pads 46, wherein the soft pads 46 respectively over the edge of the second and third longitudinal grooves 40, 52 emerge and each other via one

Bridge 56 are connected. Moisture, ice and snow are thus even more effective Ingress prevented, so that recognizable this arrangement is suitable for so-called winter wiper blades.

In FIGS. 5 to 7, the second longitudinal grooves 40 are each only partially filled, which allows free movement of the wiper wedge 42. In Figure 5 are soft upholstery

46 attached to the undersides of the wiper strip back 34. The longitudinal edges 44 can thus freely initiate the folding process and then dip into the soft pad 46 before they hit the wiper strip back 34.

The same applies to the variants of Figure 6 wherein the soft pad 46, the

Subpages of the wiper strip back 34 only partially covered, but are each guided over the outer sides. Again, the Umklappvorgang begins freely and the longitudinal edges then dive into the soft pad 46. The thus arranged soft pad 46 can serve in the case of an extreme towing position, for example, when the dry disc, as Aufpunkt the wiper strip back on the disc 14 and thus the

Protect wiper blade 10 altogether. On the other hand, the soft pads 46 are strongly exposed to environmental influences in this arrangement and weathered depending on the material used more or less quickly.

Remedy against weathering can provide an arrangement according to Figure 7, in which the soft pads 46 are arranged only in an inner, oriented on the tilting ridge 48 area.

FIG. 9 shows how the soft pad 46 can be further protected against environmental influences. The wiper strip back 34 has for this purpose an inner longitudinal channel

58, which receives the soft pad 46. Although it is possible in this case that the longitudinal edges 44 abut the wiper strip back 34 so that it can in principle come to a folding sound, but the area where the stop takes place, very soft because he can give into the soft pad 46 into it ,

Variants that do not require a tilting web 48 are shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. In the variant according to FIG. 10, the second longitudinal grooves 40 merge into one another, so that only one tilting region 41 is formed. In the variant according to FIG. 11, the wiper strip back 34 and the wiper wedge 42 are connected directly via the soft pad 46. The distance between the wiper strip back 34 and the wiper wedge 42 is selected so that in conjunction with the properties of the soft pad 46 the necessary towing position is reliably achieved even under different friction conditions. In Figure 11 it is shown that the soft pad 46 completely fills the area between the wiper strip back 34 and the wiper wedge 42, laterally even slightly protrudes. However, it is also possible, as indicated by dash-dotted lines, to provide this area with a slim waist 60. Depending on the degree of hardness of the soft pad 46, this waist 60 may be slimmer or wider.

As material for the soft pad 46 are very soft, highly flexible and possibly compressible substances. It is conceivable, for example, a mousy-like filling, in which case, however, a dense outer skin is required to prevent ingress of water into the

To avoid filling. Furthermore, it is conceivable to use very soft EPDM.

There are different ways to produce the illustrated embodiments, for example by coextrusion of the squeegee material and the material of the soft cushion or by coextrusion of the squeegee, which are mixed in the soft cushion porous plastic parts or parts of material which during the vulcanization gas bubbles in this Generate areas in the rubber.

Furthermore, it is possible to glue in the soft pads or to fill in liquid or tough form and cure.

Claims

claims

1. wiper blade with a wiper strip (24) having a wiper (38) and a

Wischleistenrücken (34), which are connected to each other via a tilting point (41), characterized in that in the region of the tilting point (41) at least one soft pad (46) is arranged.

2. Wiper blade according to claim 1, characterized in that the tilting point (41) comprises at least one tilting web (36) and pad (46) on at least one side of the tilting web (36) are arranged.

3. Wiper blade according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tilting web (36) is flanked by two grooves (40) and the at least one pad (46) at least partially fills a groove (40).

4. Wiper blade according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one pad (46) is provided only partially on a surface or edge.

5. Wiper blade according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one pad (46) is at least partially completely enclosed by the material of the wiper blade at least along a longitudinal extent of the wiper blade.

6. Wiper blade according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that a plurality of grooves (40, 52) are provided and pads (46) in all grooves (40, 52) are arranged.

7. wiper blade according to claim 6, characterized in that the pads (46) are arranged nutübergreifendes.

8. Wiper blade according to claim 1, characterized in that the wiper strip back (34) and the wiper wedge (38) are interconnected only via the soft pad (46).

9. Wiper blade according to claim 8, characterized in that the area between the wiper strip back (34) and the wiper wedge (38) completely with the soft cushion

(46) is filled.

10. Wiper blade according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one pad (46) is extruded together with the squeegee.

11. Wiper blade according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the at least one pad (46) is subsequently on or glued.

12. Wiper blade according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the at least one pad (46) in at least one groove (40, 52) is filled and cured.

13. Wiper blade according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one pad (46) consists of a moss rubber-like material.