WO2006063782A1

WO2006063782A1 - Wiper system

Info

Publication number: WO2006063782A1
Application number: PCT/EP2005/013335
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bruno Egner-Walter; Michael SCHÄUBLE
Original assignee: Valeo Systemes D'essuyage
Priority date: 2004-12-18
Filing date: 2005-12-13
Publication date: 2006-06-22
Also published as: DE102004061088A1; EP1824716A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a wiper system for vehicle windows, in particular front windows of vehicles. Said wiper system comprises at least one wiper arm (7), at least two spring-elastic wiper-blade elements (1.1, 1.2) comprising a wiper blade rubber which forms at least one wiper lip which is placed against the vehicle windows, in addition to at least one connection element (8) which is maintained on the wiper arm (7) and to which at least one wiper-blade element (1.1, 1.2) is connected. The wiper-blade element (1.1, 1.2) comprises flexible rails which form a flat wiper blade together with the wiper blade rubber.

Description

wiper

The invention relates to a wiper device for vehicle windows, in particular vehicle front windows according to the preamble of claim 1.

Wiping devices (also windscreen wiper devices) for vehicle windows are known in various designs and consist in the simplest case of at least one wiper arm, which is pivotable in the region of one end by a wiper drive about an axis of a wiper shaft between a parking position and a reverse position and at its other end wears at least one wiper blade. Also known are so-called wiper blades with an ironing system in which the squeegee provided with at least one spring rail is held on a plurality of wiper rubber longitudinally spaced portions on lower brackets which are hingedly connected to higher brackets, which in turn are fastened to the wiper arm via a common headband (DE 90 05 839.9 U1, DE 91 16 742.6 U1).

It is also known (EP 0 678 428 B1) to provide two wiper blades with an ironing system on a wiper arm in such a way that these wiper blades enclose an angle with one another with their longitudinal extent. A wiper blade is fastened in the middle of the wiper blade to the end of the wiper arm remote from the wiper shaft, and the other wiper blade is fastened to a cantilever extending laterally from the two ends of the wiper arm.

A disadvantage of the wiper blades with ironing system generally that different brackets are required for each different wiper blade lengths. This disadvantage does not exist with flat wiper blades or so-called "flat wiper blades" in which the uniform concerns of the wiper blade or the wiper lip is not achieved by a bracket system against a curved vehicle window, but only by a resilient wiper rubber, the example of a single accordingly dimensioned spring rail or but is formed by at least one pair of spring rails, wherein the holder of the wiper blade via an adapter which is provided on the squeegee rubber carrier between the two ends of the wiper blade.

Such flat wiper blades can be easily manufactured in the required length. The disadvantage, however, is that during the wiping process, a torsion of the resilient wiper rubber carrier occurs around the axis of its longitudinal extent and this torsion increases in particular with larger wiping fields or wiper blade lengths such that a satisfactory wiping quality is no longer achievable and, in addition, with larger wiper blade lengths there is a risk. that the squeegee rubber carrier, in particular when it is formed by two respective spring rails provided laterally on the wiper rubber, comes into contact with the vehicle window due to this torsion and also causes damage there.

The object of the invention is to show a wiper device which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages when forming the respective wiper blade as a flat wiper blade even with larger wiping fields. To solve this problem, a wiper device according to the patent claim 1 is formed.

Further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The wiper device according to the invention combines the advantages of flat wiper blades with regard to simplified and inexpensive production with the possibility of reliably cleaning such vehicle wafers which, for example, would require long wiper blades per se due to their size or due to the size of the wiper field. The inventive design allows a variety of variants for optimal adaptation to the particular requirements. Thus, for example, each squeegee rubber together with its squeegee an independent flat wiper blade, or at least two squeegee are provided with a common, continuous squeegee, wherein to avoid buckling of the squeegee during wiping the at least two squeegee at their adjacent ends by a Verbindungsoder Coupling element are interconnected, and preferably such that a certain pivoting of the two wiper rubber supports about an axis perpendicular or transverse to the longitudinal extension of the wiper rubber and parallel or approximately parallel to the vehicle window is possible, but not pivoting about an axis perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to the vehicle window ,

In principle, it is also possible with the invention to arrange the wiper rubber carriers or the wiper blades formed by these carriers in such a way that at least one squeegee carrier or wiper blade protrudes beyond the end of the wiper arm carrying the squeegee carriers or wiper blades, at least with the greater part of its longitudinal extent, so that despite a short design of the wiper arm, a large wiping field can be detected by the wiper device or by the wiper blade arrangement formed by the wiper blades.

As a wiper rubber carrier in each case at least one spring rail, which is provided internally in the squeegee or on the outside of the squeegee is used. The wiper rubber supports are identical or differently designed, for example, with regard to length and / or cross-sectional shape and / or cross-sectional size. Thus, it is possible to design the concave curvature of the wiper rubber supports that is necessary for the secure application of the wiper blade rubber against the vehicle window identically or differently, the latter in particular also when disc areas with different curvature are to be cleaned. The wiper rubber carriers are each between their two ends, for example in the Center or approximately in the middle connected to the connection bracket, for example using a corresponding adapter.

Furthermore, it is possible to provide wiper rubber carrier so that their respective Wischgummiträger- or wiper blade center plane have the same or at a different angle with respect to the Verbindungsbügel- center plane to clean difficult disc shapes, in particular panorama panes reliably.

To connect the wiper rubber carrier and thus the wiper blades with the connecting brackets and the connection of the parent connecting bracket with the wiper arm, the usual in windshield wiper connection techniques can be used, such as hooks, connections with a lateral pin, etc. Here then it is possible only the connection between the wiper arm and to detachably form the connecting bracket held on this wiper arm while the other connections are fixed. Other embodiments are conceivable, in the form that, for example, all connections between the wiper rubber supports, the brackets and the wiper arm are made detachable.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1 and 2 in a simplified representation and in plan view and in section along the line I - 1 of Figure 1, a flat wiper blade for use in the wiper device according to the invention;

3 and 4 in a schematic representation of a plan view and a side view of a possible embodiment of the wiper device according to the invention;

Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of a high and highly curved

Vehicle front window, together with another possible embodiment of the wiper device according to the invention in a parking position of the wiper arm; 6 is a schematic representation of wiper blade arrangements each consisting of a longer main wiper blade and of a second additional wiper blade of different lengths; Fig. 7 in a simplified representation and in side view a connection bracket for use in a wiper device according to the invention; 8 shows a section along the line II - II of Figure 7; Fig. 9 is a representation like Figure 7, but in another possible

embodiment;

10 shows a section along the line III - III of Figure 9; 11 and 12 in a simplified representation of further possible embodiments of the invention

In Figures 1 and 2, a flat wiper blade 1 (flat wiper blade) is shown schematically, which consists in a known manner from the squeegee 2 with the wiper lip 3 and two, the resilient wiper rubber carrier 4 forming spring rails 4.1, consisting of a resilient sheet material (spring steel) made as well as the squeegee 2 extend over the entire length of the wiper blade 1 and each engage in a lateral groove of the wiper blade rubber 2. At the two ends of the wiper blade 1, the squeegee 2 and the two spring rails 4.1 are held together in a suitable manner by end pieces. In the middle or approximately in the middle of the wiper blade 1, an adapter 5 is provided for the attachment of the wiper blade, as is known in flat wiper blades. About the squeegee 4, the wiper blade 1 is biased so that the not adjacent to the vehicle windshield wiper blade 1 at the wiper lip 3 having wiper blade bottom concaved between its two ends of the curvature of the squeegee 4 following concavely, so even with a curved vehicle window a concern of the wiper blade 1 over the entire length. With WM in the figure 2, the wiper blade center plane is designated in the inter alia, the wiper lip 3 is located and to which the wiper blade is mirror-symmetrical. Figures 3 and 4 show a wiper device 6 with a wiper arm 7. At the free end of the wiper arm, a connection bracket 8 is fixed by means of a hinge connection 9, in such a way that this connection bracket 8 within certain limits about a transverse to the longitudinal extent of the wiper arm and parallel or in approximately parallel to the plane of the respective vehicle window extending axis is pivotally. The articulated connection 9 is located in the illustrated embodiment approximately in the middle of in this embodiment with its longitudinal extent parallel to the longitudinal extent of the wiper arm 7 oriented connecting bracket. 8

At the two ends of the connecting bracket 8, a wiper blade 1.1 or 1.2 is held via a hinge connection 10 and 11, respectively. Part of the two articulated joints 10 and 11 is in each case an adapter 5 with a hinge pin 12 to which the connecting bracket 8 is articulated at its respective end such that the pivot axes of the articulated joints 10 and 11 are parallel to the pivot axis of the articulated connection 9. The two wiper blades 1.1 and 1.2 are each flat wiper blades, which are formed, for example, in the manner described above for the wiper blade 1.

The two wiper blades 1.1 and 1.2 are arranged so that they are oriented with their longitudinal extent in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the wiper arm 7, but laterally offset slightly from each other (in plan view of the vehicle window) and the wiper blade 1.1 with the much larger part of its length the free end of the wiper arm 7 having the hinge 9 protrudes, while the wiper blade 1.2 is arranged in this embodiment in the plan view of the vehicle window below or partially within the wiper arm 7. The wiper blades 1.1 and 1.2 are further arranged so that they overlap in a region 13 at their adjacent ends.

At its end remote from the articulated connection 9, the wiper arm 7 is hingedly connected via a hinge 14 to a wiper arm support 15, which in turn is held on a vehicle-side wiper shaft 16, via which the Wischarmträger 15 and thus also the wiper arm 7 by the windshield wiper drive, not shown for the wiping function between the parking position shown in Figure 3 and a reverse position is pivotally.

FIG. 5 shows, as a further possible embodiment of the invention, a wiper device 6a on a vehicle front disk 17, which has a relatively large disk height in comparison to the disk width and is highly curved, as shown for example in FIG. For windscreens of buses, trucks or vans is often the case. The wiper device 6a, which is shown in the parking position, in turn consists of the wiper arm 7, of the connecting bracket 8 articulated via the articulated connection 9 to the wiper arm 7 and of the two wiper blades 1.1 and 1.2. Notwithstanding the wiper device 6, the two wiper blades in this embodiment in the parking position with their longitudinal extent are not parallel or approximately parallel to each other, but such that they include in plan view of the vehicle window 17 with its longitudinal extent an angle 180 ° minus α, i. are arranged adjacent to the lower, curved edge 17.1 of the disc 17 in the parking position of the wiper arm 7. The joint axes of the joints 10 and 11 are then oriented in this embodiment, parallel to the surface of the vehicle window 17 and transverse to the longitudinal extent of the wiper blades 1.1 and 1.2 and close to each other the angle α.

FIG. 6 again shows the wiper blade arrangement of the wiper device 6 consisting of the two wiper blades 1.1 and 1.2. The main wiper blade 1.2, which is closer to the wiper shaft 16, corresponding to this figure has a predetermined length, for example, a length of 600mm. The additional wiper blade

1.1, as indicated in FIG. 6, may have a different length depending on the respective vehicle window, for example a length of 200, 300 or 400 units, one unit being e.g. a millimeter is. There is thus the possibility of adjusting the wiper arm 7 and the respective connecting bracket 8, but while maintaining the main wiper blade

1.2 the wiper device 6 by the use of an additional wiper blade 1.1 with different length to different vehicle front windows, in particular to adapt to different widths and / or height of a vehicle windscreen. In this case, it is necessary to adapt the contact force of the respective wiper blade to the length of the wiper blade length, for example in such a way that the contact pressure is of the order of about 15 to 18 N per meter of wiper blade length.

Figures 7 and 8 show a possible embodiment of the connecting bracket, which is designated in these figures with 8a and corresponds to its general function of the connecting bracket 8. The connecting bracket 8a is made by bending from a length of a strip material 18 made of steel, which is bent at both ends to a hook end 19 on which the respective wiper blade 1.1 and 1.2 is held with its hinge pin 12 having adapter 5 by hooking and securing , Between the two ends of the connecting bracket 8a, a further adapter 20 is provided which consists in the illustrated embodiment of two the band material 18 on each longitudinal side cross-wall elements or legs 21 which project beyond a common side of the strip material 18. On the legs 21 with its axis perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the connecting bracket 8a oriented connecting pin 22 is mounted at both ends, then the connecting bracket 8a at the free end of the wiper arm 7, for example, in turn by a hook provided there and additional securing elements can be fastened.

In the illustrated embodiment, the adapter 20 is located in the middle or approximately in the middle of the connecting bracket 8a, as is appropriate for connected wiper blades of the same design and the same wiper blade length to avoid generated during wiping by the wiper blades torque in the region of the adapter 20 or keep as small as possible. If the wiper blades have a different length, the distances between the adapter 20 and the ends of the connection bracket 8a are inversely proportional to the lengths of the wiper blades connected to these ends for the same reasons. A peculiarity of the connection bracket 8a still consists in that this or the connecting strap forming band material 18 is bent several times in the central region or bent such that the two legs 21 do not project beyond the general top of the connecting bracket 8a, wherein the axis of the bolt 22 is parallel to the axes of curvature of the hook ends 19, at the level or at the level of a plane which encloses the axes of curvature of the two hook ends 19. The two legs or wall sections 21, which as well as the strip material 18 are made of steel, are connected to this strip material 18 by welding or in another suitable manner.

Figures 9 and 10 show representations similar to Figures 7 and 8 as another possible embodiment, a connecting bracket 8b, which in turn corresponds to its general function forth the connecting bracket 8. In the connecting bracket 8b, which is also made by bending from a length of the strip material 18 made of steel, the two hook ends 19 are bent so that their bending axes with a bracket center plane BM, which includes the longitudinal extent of the connecting bracket 8b and perpendicular to the axis of the Studs 22 is oriented, include different angles, so that accordingly also have the axes of the joints 10 and 11 with the wiper blades held on the connection bracket 8 and 1.2, these different angles to the plane BM. Therefore, the Wischblattmittelebenen WM of the two wiper blades are tilted or pivoted relative to the median plane BM, namely in the representation chosen for the figure 10 at the one wiper blade in the counterclockwise direction by the angle ß1 and the other wiper blade clockwise by the angle ß2, so that the center planes WM of the two wiper blades 1.1 and 1.2 are twisted against each other. By this rotation of the two wiper blades from the median plane BM of the connecting bracket 8b, the possibility of an optimal adaptation of the wiper device to the curvature of vehicle windows, and in particular in such a way that even with highly curved windows, a good wiping result is achieved. The connecting bracket 8b is again in the middle with an adapter 20, which in this embodiment is formed by a U-profile, which is secured to the top of the strip material 18 by suitable means and the bolt 22 for articulated connection (articulation 9) with the wiper arm 7 has.

FIG. 11 shows, as a further possible embodiment, a wiper device 6b in which a flat wiper blade 24 is held on the connecting bracket 8, which is connected to the wiper arm 7 via the articulated connection 9, via the articulated connections 10 and 11, which is composed of two adjacent ones Wiper blade sections 24.1 and 24.2 composed.

Both wiper blade sections 24.1 and 24.2 each have a resilient wiper rubber support which is formed by at least one spring rail and which extends over the entire length of the respective wiper blade section 24.1 or 24.2. Both wiper blade sections 24.1 and 24.2 in turn have the concave curvature on their underside having the wiper lip. The squeegee 2 is formed continuously in this embodiment, only the resilient wiper rubber carrier is provided separately for each wiper blade section 24.1 and 24.2. However, the wiper rubber supports in the connection region between the two wiper blade sections 24.1 and 24.2 are connected to one another by a stabilizing or connecting element 25, which then also serves, for example, on its underside for guiding the wiper rubber. Each wiper blade section 24.1 and 24.2 in turn has the adapter 5 or a similar adapter for realizing the articulated connection 10 or 11.

Finally, FIG. 12 shows, as a further possible embodiment, a wiper device 6c which initially differs from the wiper device 6 in that, in addition to the connecting bracket 8, a further connecting bracket 26 and, instead of two flat wiper blades or wiper blade sections, a total of three flat wiper blades are provided, of which FIG Figure 12, however, only the wiper rubber carrier 4 are shown without wiper rubber. The connecting bracket 8 is connected via the hinge 9 with the wiper arm 7 and the articulated connection 11 with the right in Fig. 12 squeegee 4. The other end of the connecting bracket 8 is connected via the hinge connection 10 with the further connecting bracket 26, in the illustrated embodiment in the middle or approximately in the middle of this connecting bracket 26. The two ends of the connecting bracket 26 are connected by joints 27 and 28, respectively the right in the figure 12 or middle wiper rubber carrier 4 connected. All wiper rubber supports are again concave in the relaxed state on the side facing the underside of the wiper blade.

Separate wiper blades are arranged on the wiper rubber supports 4 to form separate wiper blades, these wiper blades being offset from each other, overlapping and / or twisted, etc., or a continuous squeegee is provided corresponding to the wiper mechanism 6b and the individual wiper rubber supports 4 are connected at the connection areas with one adapter each.

The invention has been described above in various embodiments. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the inventive concept underlying the invention.

Thus, it is possible, in particular, to form the individual articulated connections 9, 10, 11, 27, 28 differently than described above, for example as a so-called side-pin connection with the wiper arm or connecting brackets 8, 8a, 8b, 26 laterally wegstehende pins, etc. Also, the squeegee rubber support 4 may be formed differently than shown in Figure 2, in particular it is also possible, for example, to use a single spring rail as a squeegee, which is then enclosed for example by the respective squeegee. Especially in the embodiments of FIGS. 3-5, it is possible to connect the overlapping ends of the wiper blades 1.1 and 1.2 via a coupling member, for example via an articulated lever or a clamp, as indicated schematically at 29 in FIG.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 1.1, 1.2 Wiper blade

2 squeegee

3 wiper lip

4 wiper rubber carrier

4.1 spring rail

5 adapters

6, 6a, 6b, 6c wiper device

7 wiper arm

8, 8a, 8b connecting bracket

9, 10, 11 articulation

12 hinge pins

13 overlap

14 joint

15 wiper arm carrier

16 wiper shaft

17 vehicle window

17.1 edge

18 band material

19 hook end

20 adapters

21 legs or wall section

22 bolts

23 adapters

24 wiper blade

24.1, 24.2 wiper blade section

25 Stabilizing or connecting element

26 additional connecting straps

27, 28 joint connection

29 connecting element

WM Wischblattmittelebene BM connecting bracket center plane α, ß1, ß2 angle

Claims

claims

1. wiper device for vehicle windows, in particular vehicle windshields, with at least one wiper arm (7), with at least two resilient wiper rubber supports (4) with squeegee (2), which forms at least one wiper lip (3) against the vehicle window (17), and with at least one connection bracket (8, 8a, 8b) which is held on the wiper arm (7) and connected to the at least one wiper rubber support (4), characterized in that the wiper rubber supports (4) are spring rails (4.1) which together with the squeegee (2) form a flat wiper blade (1, 1.1, 1.2, 24).

2. Wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that at each end of the at least one connecting bracket (8, 8a, 8b) in each case a wiper rubber carrier (4) is attached.

3. Wiper device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one connecting bracket (8, 8a, 8b) is connected between its two ends, with the wiper arm (7) or connectable.

4. Wiper device according to claim 3, characterized in that at the same or approximately the same wiper blade length of at least one connecting bracket (8, 8a, 8b) in its center or approximately in its center with the wiper arm (7) connected or connectable.

5. Wiper device according to claim 3, characterized in that the distances between the wiper blades (1.1, 1.2) and the connection bracket (8, 8a, 8b) of the connection of the connecting bracket (8, 8a, 8b) with the wiper arm (7) are inversely proportional to the length of the wiper blades.

6. Wiper device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the connection bracket (8, 8a, 8b) at least one further Connecting bracket (26) is fixed instead of a squeegee, at the ends in turn in each case a squeegee support (4) is held.

7. Wiper device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in more than two wiper rubber supports (4) at least two squeegee (4) are held on a subordinate connection bracket (26), in turn, by means of the connecting bracket (8, 8a, 8b) with the wiper arm (7) is connected or connectable.

8. Wiper device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least two wiper rubber supports (4) are provided with their longitudinal extent parallel or approximately parallel or in a line one behind the other or together.

9. Wiper device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least two wiper rubber carrier (4) are provided offset in a plan view of the vehicle window (17), for example, transversely to their longitudinal extent against each other.

10. Wiper device according to claim 9, characterized in that the at least two wiper rubber supports (4) are provided overlapping each other over a partial length.

11. Wiper device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least two squeegee rubber carrier (4) are arranged such that they viewed with their longitudinal extent in plan view of the vehicle window (17), an obtuse angle (180 ° minus α) with each other lock in.

12. Wiper device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least two wiper rubber carriers (4) are arranged such that their the longitudinal extension of the respective Wiper rubber support (4) including Wischgummiträger- or wiper blade center planes (WM) a different angle (ß1, ß2) with the connecting bracket center plane (BM).

13. Wiper device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connections between the wiper arm (7) and the connected connection bracket (8, 8a, 8b) and / or between the respective connection bracket (8, 8a, 8b, 26) and the connected wiper rubber carrier (4) and / or between two connecting brackets (8, 26) is designed to pivot about a hinge axis.

14. Wiper device according to claim 13, characterized in that the joint axes of the connections between the wiper arm (7) and the connected connection bracket (8, 8a, 8b) and / or between the respective connection bracket (8, 8a, 8b, 26) and the connected wiper rubber carrier (4) and / or between two connecting straps (8, 26) are parallel to each other.

15. Wiper assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that the joint axes of the connections between the respective connection bracket (8, 8a, 8b, 26) and the connected squeegee rubber supports (4) enclose an angle with each other, such that these hinge axes an ironing the longitudinal extension enclosing ( BM) at different angles (90 ° minus β1 or 90 ° minus β2).

16. Wiper device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least two wiper rubber carriers (4) or wiper blades (1.1, 1.2) or wiper blade sections (24.1, 24.2) are connected at their adjacent ends via a connecting or coupling member (29). or a stabilizing or connecting element (25) are interconnected.

17. Wiper device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least two wiper rubber carrier (4) have different lengths.

18. Wiper device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least two wiper rubber carriers have the same length.

19. Wiper device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wiper rubber carrier to achieve a conditioning of the squeegee (2) on the vehicle window (17) causing bias on its the wiper lip (3) facing the bottom are concave, and that the curvature the at least two wiper rubber carrier (4) is identical or different.

20. Wiper device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that only the connection (9) between the wiper arm (7) and the subsequent connecting bracket (8, 8a, 8b) is detachably formed.

21. Wiper device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection (10, 11, 27, 28) between the connecting bracket (8, 8a, 8b, 26) and at least one subsequent wiper rubber carrier (4) are detachably formed.

22. Wiper device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection (10) between two connecting straps (8, 26) is detachably formed.

23. Wiper device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least two wiper rubber carriers (4) have a shape and / or size identical or different cross-section.

24. Wiper device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a separate squeegee (2) is provided on each wiper rubber carrier (4).

25. Wiper device according to claim 23, characterized in that the at least two wiper rubber carriers (4), viewed over their longitudinal extent, have a shape which remains the same or changes in shape and / or size.

26. Wiper device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the at least two wiper rubber supports (4) a single, continuous squeegee (2) is provided.

27. Wiper device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one wiper rubber carrier (4) is provided at least with a partial length laterally from the wiper arm (7) or in plan view of the vehicle window under the wiper arm (7).