WO2012041907A1

WO2012041907A1 - Wiper blade for the cleaning of vehicle windows and wiper arm with a wiper blade

Info

Publication number: WO2012041907A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/066867
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael SCHÄUBLE; Bruno Egner-Walter
Original assignee: Valeo Systèmes d'Essuyage
Priority date: 2010-10-01
Filing date: 2011-09-28
Publication date: 2012-04-05
Also published as: DE102010047098A1; EP2621775A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a wiper blade (10) for the cleaning of vehicle windows, with at least one wiper blade body (12, 13) extending in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade, with at least one wiper rubber (19) forming at least one wiper lip, on the wiper blade body (12, 13), with at least one wiper blade adapter (11) on the at least one wiper blade body (12, 13) for a mechanical connection of the wiper blade (10) with a wiper arm (1) or a wiper arm adapter, and with at least one jet opening, provided on the wiper blade (10), which is able to be connected via at least one fluid connection (28, 29) on the wiper blade side with a supply system on the vehicle side, having at least one supply line (26, 27), for the supplying of a washing fluid. According to the invention, provision is made that the at least one fluid connection (28, 29) on the wiper blade side is arranged on the side of the wiper blade adapter (11) facing away from the wiper arm (1) or the wiper arm adapter, and that the at least one fluid connection (28, 29) is covered by a covering element (30) on the wiper arm (1) or the wiper arm adapter, wherein the covering element (30) in a changeover position of the wiper blade (10) is arranged freeing the at least one fluid connection (28, 29), and wherein in the changeover position at the same time the mechanical connection between the wiper blade (10) and the wiper arm (1) or the wiper arm adapter is maintained.

Description

WIPER BLADE FOR THE CLEANING OF VEHICLE WINDOWS AND WIPER

ARM WITH A WIPER BLADE

PRIOR ART

The invention relates to a wiper blade for the cleaning of vehicle windows according to the introductory clause of Claim 1. The invention further comprises a wiper arm with a wiper blade according to the invention.

A wiper blade for the cleaning of vehicle windows according to the introductory clause of Claim 1 is known from DE 10 2008 021 457 Al of the applicant. In the known wiper blade, the latter has an adapter with an adapter element on the wiper blade side, which is able to be connected with a wiper arm via an adapter element on the wiper arm side. The adapter element on the wiper blade side has, in addition, nozzle-shaped fluid connections for the supply of washing fluid, which are connected with a supply system on the wiper arm side in the form of hose lines. Washing fluid is guided via the fluid connections on the adapter element on the wiper blade side to spray openings arranged in the wiper blade. The essential factor here is that the fluid connections on the adapter element on the wiper blade side are arranged on the side facing the wiper arm and are covered by a protective covering of the wiper arm.

To exchange a wiper blade, the wiper blade must be released or respectively removed from the wiper arm. Here, in the prior art, firstly the mechanical connection between the wiper blade and the wiper arm is eliminated or respectively released. Only thereafter is the hydraulic connection on the adapter element on the wiper blade side interrupted by drawing off the hose lines. A disadvantage here is that in the solution described above, the wiper blade is still hanging on the hose lines for the washing fluid, whilst the mechanical connection between the wiper arm and the wiper blade is already released. Thereby, the risk exists that damage can occur to the hose lines of the supply system. In a corresponding manner, on connecting with a new wiper blade, the latter is already coupled hydraulically with the supply lines on the vehicle side, and the mechanical connection between the wiper blade and wiper arm is only established subsequently. Here, also, it can arise that the weight of the (new) wiper blade is fully absorbed via the hose lines or respectively is transferred by these, with the risk of potential damage or prior damage.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Proceeding from the presented prior art, the invention is based on the problem of further developing a wiper blade for the cleaning of vehicle windows according to the introductory clause of Claim 1, such that the damage to supply lines, in particular the hose lines mentioned for the supply of the washing fluid during the exchange of the wiper blade on the wiper arm is avoided. This problem is solved in a wiper blade for the cleaning of vehicle windows by the features of Claim 1. The invention is based on the idea of arranging the fluid connection on the adapter element on the wiper blade side on the side facing away from the wiper arm, and of continuing to cover the fluid connection by a covering element preferably arranged on the wiper arm, which frees the fluid connection in a changeover position of the wiper blade, wherein at the same time the mechanical connection between the wiper blade and the wiper arm is maintained. Thereby, the possibility is created of firstly releasing the supply lines on the fluid connection of the adapter element on the wiper blade side, and only subsequently eliminating the mechanical connection between the wiper blade and the wiper arm. Thereby, on releasing the mechanical connection between wiper blade and wiper arm it is ensured that the supply lines are already removed or respectively released from the fluid connection of the adapter, so that they are free of mechanical forces and therefore can not be damaged.

Advantageous further developments of the wiper blade according to the invention for the cleaning of vehicle windows are indicated in the subclaims. All combinations of at least two of features disclosed in the claims, the description and/or the figures fall within the scope of the invention .

In a preferred structural implementation of the invention, provision is made that the covering element is arranged pivotably on the wiper arm or on the wiper arm adapter. By the pivotable arrangement, the covering element can not become lost and a very simple handling is made possible on releasing the supply line(s) from the fluid connection.

In addition, it is particularly preferred if the covering element is locked in its closed position with the wiper blade or with the wiper arm. Thereby also in the case of external influences, e.g. when driving through a washing system, it is ensured that the fluid connections are covered or respectively protected. Furthermore, no tool is necessary for closing the covering element, so that a relatively simple handling is made possible.

In a further structural configuration, provision is made that the covering element is locked in its open position with the wiper blade or with the wiper arm. Thereby, the operating or respectively the removing of the supply line on the fluid connection of the wiper blade adapter is facilitated in so far as the covering element is secured in a position in which it does not disturb the releasing (and subsequent re-fastening) of the supply line on the fluid connection of the wiper blade adapter or respectively it is not necessary to hold the covering element manually in a corresponding position. A hood-shaped construction the covering element ensures that the fluid connection completely protected by the covering element.

To guide the at least one supply line in the region of the wiper blade adapter, a hose guide body can be provided. The latter ensures that the at least one supply line is guided in a defined manner, without coming into contact or respectively conflict with other parts of the wiper blade adapter or of the wiper arm.

Provision can be made here that the hose guide body is constructed pivotably as part of the wiper blade adapter and is connected by a form or force fit with the wiper arm or respectively with the wiper arm adapter. Such a construction or respectively fastening of the hose guide body makes possible a relatively simple production and mounting of the hose guide body on the wiper blade or respectively on the wiper arm adapter.

Furthermore, it is preferred that the fluid connection on the wiper blade side has at least one connection nozzle, which is arranged at least substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade and which is coupled with the supply line, which is constructed as a hose line. By the substantially perpendicular arrangement of the fluid connection, a particularly easy manual releasing or respectively fastening of the hose line on the fluid connection can be brought about here.

Moreover, the releasing or respectively fastening of the hose line on the fluid connection can be simplified or respectively made easier, if a free space is formed around the connection nozzle in the changeover position of the covering element for the manual removal and fastening of the hose as wiper blade adapter. The invention also comprises a wiper arm with a wiper blade according to the invention. Provision is made here that a covering element is arranged on the wiper arm for the freeing and covering at least of one fluid connection on the wiper blade adapter, wherein with the opened or removed covering element, the at least one supply line projects beyond the end of the wiper arm.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will emerge from the following description of preferred example embodiments, and with the aid of the drawings.

These show in:

Fig. 1 a wiper blade according to the invention, fastened on a wiper arm, in perspective view,

Fig. 2 the wiper blade according to Fig. 1 and parts of the wiper arm in exploded illustration,

Fig. 3 the wiper blade according to Fig. 1 a changeover position, in which the covering element which has been pivoted away frees supply lines, in perspective view.

Fig. 4 a perspective view onto a hose guide body, as is used in the wiper blade according to Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 a section in the plane V-V of Fig. 4.

Identical components or respectively components with identical function are provided with the same reference numbers in the figures.

In the figures, a wiper blade 10 according to the invention is illustrated for the cleaning of vehicle windows, in particular a windscreen of a road vehicle. The wiper blade 10 is fastened exchangeably at the one end 2 of a wiper arm 1. The wiper arm 1 consists in a known manner of a bearing element 3, able to be fastened on a wiper shaft of a windscreen wiper drive, and of a wiper rod 5, articulately connected with the bearing element 3 via a wiper arm joint 4, at the wiper arm end of which, facing away from the bearing element 3, the wiper blade 10 is fastened by means of a wiper blade adapter 11. The wiper blade adapter 11, consisting of two parts which are pivotable with respect to each other, cooperates here with a wiper blade mount 8 arranged or respectively constructed at the end 2 of the wiper arm 1, with which mount the wiper blade 10 is connected via a detent connection. The wiper blade 10 has two wiper blade sections 12, 13, constructed of approximately equal length in the example embodiment, forming the wiper blade body, between which the wiper blade adapter 11 is arranged. In the longitudinal direction of the two wiper blade sections 12, 13, spray ducts 14, 15 are constructed, arranged parallel to each other, from which jet- or spray openings, not able to be seen in the figures, originate, via which washing fluid can be applied onto the vehicle window. The connection between the wiper blade adapter 11 and the two wiper blade sections 12, 13 takes place via the spray ducts 14, 15, into which respectively connection nozzles 16, 17 of the wiper blade adapter 11 project.

The two wiper blade sections 12, 13 have on their underside a mounting groove 18 for a wiper rubber 19 forming a wiper lip. Two spring strips 21 together with the wiper rubber 19 are also held in the mounting groove 18, wherein the spring strips 21 serve for reinforcing the wiper blade 10. In addition, a closure cap 22, 23 is respectively arranged on the two front faces of the wiper blade 10. To supply the spray ducts 14, 15 in the wiper blade sections 12, 13 with the washing fluid, a supply line 25 is provided on the vehicle side in the form of two hose lines 26, 27. The two hose lines 26, 27 are guided in a protected manner inside the wiper rod 5 of the wiper arm 1 and are hydraulically connected with the wiper blade adapter 11 by their ends facing the wiper blade 10. For this, as can be seen in particular from Fig. 2, the wiper blade adapter 11 has two connection nozzles 28, 29, which are arranged at least substantially perpendicularly to the connection nozzles 16, 17 or respectively to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade. Here, respectively one of the connection nozzles 28, 29 is responsible for the supply of one of the two spray ducts 14, 15 on each of the two sides of the wiper blade adapter 11.

The wiper arm 1, or a wiper arm adapter fastened to the wiper arm 1, has a covering element in the form of a hood- shaped protective cover 30 arranged pivotably on the wiper arm 1 (or respectively on the wiper arm adapter) . Here, the protective cover 30 is arranged at the end 2 of the wiper arm 1, facing away from the bearing element 3, and in particular pivotably between two positions: a (first) operating position, in which the protective cover 30 in particular overlaps or respectively covers the connection nozzles 28, 29 on the wiper blade adapter 11, and a (second) changeover position, which is illustrated in Fig. 3, in which the protective cover 30 frees the connection nozzles 28, 29.

Preferably, provision is made that in the two positions mentioned, the protective cover 30 is arranged in engaging connection with the wiper arm 1 or respectively with the wiper blade adapter 11, so that the protective cover 30 is self-locking in both positions. It is essential to the invention that the two connection nozzles 28, 29 in the mentioned changeover position of the wiper blade 10, in which the protective cover 30 is pivoted upwards away from the connection nozzles 28, 29, through the arrangement of the connection nozzles 28, 29 on the side of the wiper blade adapter 11 facing away from the wiper arm 1, are freely accessible for an operator, whilst at the same time the mechanical connection of the wiper blade adapter 11 with the wiper arm 1 is maintained. In other words, this means that for changing the wiper blade 10 on the wiper arm 1, firstly the protective cover 30 is pivoted, then the hydraulic connection between the hose lines 26, 27, projecting beyond the end of the wiper arm 1, on the connection nozzles 28, 29 is released, and only then does a mechanical separation of wiper blade 10 and wiper arm 1 take place. In addition, it can be seen with the aid of Fig. 3 that through the hood-like construction of the protective cover 30, with pivoted protective cover 30 the two hose lines 26, 27 are freely accessible, because laterally to the longitudinal axis the wiper blade 10 has corresponding free spaces 31, 32, which make possible a manual gripping (and fastening) of the hose lines 26, 27 on the connection nozzles 28, 29. With an installation of a new wiper blade 10, firstly the mechanical connection between the wiper blade 10 and the wiper arm 1 is produced. Then the two hose lines 26, 27 are pushed onto the connection nozzles 28, 29 of the (new) wiper blade adapter 11. The wiper blade 10 has in addition a hose guide body 35 as component of the wiper blade adapter 11, which, as can be seen in particular with the aid of Fig. 4 and 5, has a guide section 36 onto which the two hose lines 26, 27 rest. It is further ensured, by lateral guides 37, 38, that the hose lines 26, 27 do not come in contact with or respectively touch e.g. the wiper blade adapter 11 at critical sites, so that the hose lines 26, 27 are arranged so as to be always protected mechanically inside the wiper blade adapter 11.

The hose guide body 35 consisting of plastic serves on the one hand for the pivotable mounting of the wiper blade adapter 11 on the wiper arm 1, and at the same time on the other hand for the connecting of the wiper blade 10 on the wiper arm 1. For this, the hose guide body 35 has, on the sides of the guides 37, 38 facing each other, in each case a guide pin 39, 40, which engages into a corresponding mounting opening 41, 42 (Fig. 2) of the wiper blade adapter 11, so that the hose guide body 35 is pivotable relative to the remaining wiper blade adapter 11. The hose guide body 35, in turn, is arranged fixedly to the wiper arm 1 (or respectively a wiper arm adapter) , wherein for example arresting pins 43, 44 engage into corresponding mounts 45 constructed on the side walls of the wiper arm 1, and secure the hose guide body 35 axially, or respectively lock with the wiper arm 1. Furthermore, the hose guide body 35 is held in a form-fitting manner via the U-shaped cross- section of the wiper arm 1.

The wiper blade 10 which has been described so far can be altered or respectively modified in a variety of ways, without departing from the idea of the invention. Thus, in particular, it is conceivable to construct the hose guide body 35 differently. The protective cover 30 could also be constructed for example as a component of the wiper blade adapter 11.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 wiper arm

2 end

3 bearing element

4 wiper arm joint

5 wiper rod

8 wiper blade mount 10 wiper blade

11 wiper blade adapter

12 wiper blade section

13 wiper blade section

14 spray duct

15 spray duct

16 connection nozzle

17 connection nozzle

18 mounting groove

19 wiper rubber

21 spring strip

22 closure cap

23 closure cap

25 supply line

26 hose line

27 hose line

28 connection nozzle

29 connection nozzle

30 protective cover

31 free space

32 free space

35 hose guide body

36 guide region

39 guide region

40 guide pin

41 mounting opening

42 mounting opening

43 arresting pin arresting pin mount

Claims

Wiper blade (10) for the cleaning of vehicle windows, with at least one wiper blade body (12, 13) extending in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade, with at least one wiper rubber (19), forming at least one wiper lip, on the wiper blade body (12, 13), with at least one wiper blade adapter (11) on the at least one wiper blade body (12, 13) for a mechanical connection of the wiper blade (10) with a wiper arm (1) or with a wiper arm adapter, and with at least one jet opening provided on the wiper blade (10), which via at least one fluid connection (28, 29) on the wiper blade side is able to be connected with a supply system on the vehicle side, having at least one supply line (26, 27), for the supplying of a washing fluid, characterized in that the at least one fluid connection (28, 29) on the wiper blade side is arranged on the side of the wiper blade adapter (11) facing away from the wiper arm (1) or from the wiper arm adapter, and that the at least one fluid connection (28, 29) is covered by a covering element (30) on the wiper arm (1) or the wiper arm adapter, wherein the covering element (30) in a changeover position of the wiper blade (10) is arranged freeing the at least one fluid connection (28, 29), and wherein in the changeover position at the same time the mechanical connection between the wiper blade (10) and the wiper arm (1) or the wiper arm adapter is maintained.

Wiper blade according to Claim 1,

characterized in that

the covering element 30 is pivotably arranged on the wiper arm (1) or the wiper arm adapter.

Wiper blade according to Claim 2,

characterized in that

the covering element (30) is locked in its closed position with the wiper arm (1) or respectively the wiper blade ( 10 ) .

Wiper blade according to Claim 2 or 3,

characterized in that

the covering element (30) is locked in its open position with the wiper blade (10) or the wiper arm (1) ·

Wiper blade according to one of Claims 1 to 4,

characterized in that

the covering element (30) is constructed so as to be hood-shaped .

Wiper blade according to one of Claims 1 to 5,

characterized in that

the at least one supply line (26, 27) is guided in the region of the wiper blade adapter (11) in a hose guide body (35) .

Wiper blade according to Claim 6,

characterized in that

the hose guide body (35) is pivotably constructed as part of the wiper blade adapter (11) and is connected by a form- or respectively force fit with the wiper arm (1) or respectively with the wiper arm adapter.

Wiper blade according to one of Claims 1 to 7,

characterized in that

the fluid connection on the wiper blade side has at least one connection nozzle (28, 29), which is arranged at least substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade and which is coupled with the supply line which is constructed as hose line (26, 27) .

9. Wiper blade according to Claim 8,

characterized in that

around the at least one connection nozzle (28, 29) in the changeover position of the covering element (30), a free space (31, 32) is formed for the manual removal and fastening of the hose line (26, 27).

10. Wiper arm (1) with a wiper blade (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 9,

characterized in that

on the wiper arm (1) a covering element (30) is arranged for freeing and covering at least one fluid connection (28, 29) on the wiper blade adapter (11) , wherein the at least one supply line (26, 27), with opened or removed covering element (30), projects beyond the end of the wiper arm (1) .