WO2017102788A1

WO2017102788A1 - Connection unit for a wiper motor and wiper motor

Info

Publication number: WO2017102788A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/080889
Authority: WO
Inventors: Siegfried Stefani; Christof Heuberger; Harald Kapitza; David RIGNAULT
Original assignee: Valeo Systemes dEssuyage SAS
Current assignee: Valeo Systemes dEssuyage SAS
Priority date: 2015-12-17
Filing date: 2016-12-14
Publication date: 2017-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 2018-06-17
Also published as: US20200290569A1; WO2017103087A1; EP3391514A1; CN108370199A; US11088590B2; US20180375401A1; JP2019500844A; WO2017102783A1; JP2019504596A; EP3391515A1; DE102015122095A1; CN108370198A; US11043873B2; WO2017102781A1; CN108370198B

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection unit (20; 20a) for a wiper motor (100) for windshield wiper systems, with a plug connector element (22) for the reception of electric connection lines (24), which are formed for the at least indirect contacting of a commutator (6) of an electric motor (1), and with a carrier element (26; 26a) on which at least one electric contact (63) and/or at least one component of an electric circuit is arranged.

Description

Connection unit for a wiper motor and wiper motor

Prior art

The invention relates to a connection unit for a wiper motor for windshield wiper systems according to the preamble of claim 1 . Furthermore, the invention relates to a wiper motor using a connection unit according to the invention.

A connection unit having the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known from US 6,787,953 B2. The known connection unit comprises a circuit board with an electronic circuit as a carrier element, which can be connected to a carbon brush holder plate. A plug connector element is in turn arranged on the carbon brush holder plate, in order to contact the wiper motor electrically. The construction unit consisting of the carbon brush holder plate with the plug connector element and the circuit board can be inserted into an opening of a gearbox of the wiper motor. Further details as to how the mentioned construction unit can be connected to the gearbox in a precise position and simple manner can not be taken from the above-mentioned specification.

Disclosure of the invention

Based upon the described prior art, the object underlying the invention is to develop a connection unit for a wiper motor for windshield wiper systems according to the preamble of claim 1 in such a way that the connection unit can be connected to a gearbox in a particularly simple and safe manner.

According to the invention, in a connection unit for a wiper motor having the features of claim 1 , this object is essentially achieved in that the connection unit comprises means for forming a latch connection for fixing the connection unit in a reception of a gearbox. Such a configuration of the connection unit thus makes it possible to be able to fix the connection unit to or in a reception of a gear box without tools and in a particularly precise position and safe manner at the same time. In particular, separate fastening elements such as screws or the like, which require an additional mounting effort, are not required. The means for forming the latch connection can be formed in the type of latch trunnions, latching lugs or similar elements, which interact with corresponding counter elements in the reception of the gearbox once the connection unit reaches its mounting position.

Advantageous developments of the connection unit according to the invention are indicated in the sub-claims. All combinations of features disclosed in the claims, the description and the drawing are in the scope of the invention.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the connection unit provides that the plug connector element with its electric connection lines, which serve to at least indirectly contact a commutator of an electric motor, is directly connected to the carrier element. This structural embodiment is therefore different from the structure known from US 6,787,953 B2, in which the carrier element is formed as a component separate from the plug connector element. This simplifies the manufacturing efforts since no additional separate or afterwards-formed electric connections are needed or need to be formed between the carrier element and the connection lines of the plug connector element.

An embodiment advantageous in terms of space required by the carrier element provides that the carrier element is at least essentially formed in the type of a plate, and in that the at least one contact and the at least one component of the electric circuit are arranged on different sides of the carrier element.

Depending on the individual case of application, it may be provided that the carrier element is formed for receiving or fixing a circuit carrier for an electronic circuit. Thus, in the type of a modular construction system, it is possible to use the carrier element optionally with a circuit carrier comprising an electronic circuit, or, in conventional applications, without such an electronic circuit. An advantageous mounting process, which particularly enables a verification of the connection between the carbon brush holder plate and the carrier element, is ensured in that the carrier element forms a pre-mountable construction unit with the carbon brush holder plate formed as a separate component. Such a pre-mountable construction unit comes with the advantage that it can be checked in terms of its operability prior to the installation in a gearbox.

For forming the pre-mountable construction unit between the carrier element and the carbon brush holder plate, it is provided in a particularly preferred structural embodiment that the carrier element is connected to the carbon brush holder plate by means of a latch connection, wherein electric connection elements in each case interacting with one another are formed on the carrier element and the carbon brush holder plate. Such electric connection elements may be present in the form of spring- loaded, plate-shaped contacts, which engage one another when forming the latch connection between the carbon brush holder plate and the carrier element and enter a mechanically fixed connection by means of the latch connection, which ensures electric contacting at the same time. Alternatively, soldering, crimping, welding or other connection techniques are conceivable.

The invention also comprises a wiper motor for windshield wiper system, wherein the wiper motor has an electric motor comprising a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft interacts with a gear wheel inside the gearbox, and wherein the wiper motor comprises an above-described electric connection unit.

In order to be able to connect such a wiper motor to the above-described connection unit via the latch connection in an advantageous manner, it is provided that the gearbox of the wiper motor comprises a reception with an insertion opening, in which the connection unit can be inserted from the outer side of the gearbox in the type of a drawer, wherein the gearbox comprises latching means for forming the latch connection with the connection unit. Such a configuration particularly ensures that the connection unit is completely enclosed by the gearbox in the area of the reception and thus is arranged in a mechanically protected manner. This particularly achieves the advantage that the connection unit does not require a separate cover element or protection element in order to protect it mechanically from external influence. The mechanical protection is rather achieved by the drawer-type reception of the gearbox.

Another structural embodiment of the connection or arrangement of the connection unit in the gearbox, which enables fixing the connection unit in the gearbox in addition to the latch connection, provides that the electric motor comprises a motor housing separate from the gearbox, and that the motor housing, in the state mounted to the gearbox, forms a stop for the connection unit by am abutment contact to the connection unit in the opposite direction of an insertion direction of the connection unit into the insertion opening. Such a configuration requires keeping to a certain mounting sequence of the components or assemblies in such a way that, first, the connection unit is inserted in the insertion opening of the gearbox, and subsequently the motor housing of the electric motor is fixed to the gearbox at an at least partial overlap with the connection unit.

In order to ensure, at the same time, an electric connection between the contacts at the carrier element and the contact elements arranged in the area of the gearbox or the gear wheel during the mounting process of the connection unit in the gearbox, it is provided that a spring-loaded connection is formed between the contacts and the contact elements.

In order to allow a particularly safe mounting of the connection unit in the gearbox, in which, in particular, erroneous installation is excluded, which could otherwise result in a damage of components, and in which it is made possible at the same time that the latch connection is inevitably formed between the connection unit and the gearbox due to the insertion movement when connecting or inserting the connection unit in the reception of the gearbox, it is provided that guidance means are provided in the area of the reception for guiding the connection unit during the insertion into the reception.

For the sealing of the wiper motor toward external media, it is provided that in a configuration in which the gearbox consists of metal and the connection unit at least sectionally consists of plastic, the region between the gearbox and the connection unit is closed in a media-tight manner by means of a sealant in the mounted state. Thus, this sealant allows sealing components consisting of foreign material against one another in a particularly simple manner.

A particularly preferred field of application of the above-described wiper motor lies with the use as a part of a windshield wiper system for a rear wiper of a motor vehicle.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments as well as by means of the drawing.

The drawing shows in:

Fig. 1 the essential components of a wiper motor for a windshield wiper system in an exploded view,

Fig. 2 the wiper motor according to Fig. 1 in a partially mounted state in a plan view,

Figs. 3 and 4 the parts of a carbon brush holder plate and a connection unit prior to and after the connection in a perspective view,

Fig. 5 parts of the wiper motor during the insertion of the connection unit into an insertion opening of a gearbox in a perspective view, Fig. 6 an assembly consisting of a carbon brush holder plate with contacts for contacting a mating element on the gear wheel in a perspective view,

Fig. 7 the components of a modified connection unit in a perspective view, and

Fig. 8 a perspective illustration of a once more modified connection unit, which can be connected to a gearbox region in the type of a housing cover in a perspective illustration.

Like elements or elements having the same function are indicated with like reference numerals throughout the drawings.

Figs. 1 and 2 show the essential components of a wiper motor 100 serving as a part of a windshield wiper system in particular, without limitation, in the rear area of a motor vehicle for cleaning a window with a wiper arm having a wiper blade (not illustrated).

The wiper motor 100 comprises a brush-type (electric) motor 1 , which has a pot- shaped motor housing 2 made of sheet metal produced as a separate component in a deep-drawing process. An anchor 3 is rotatably supported within the motor housing 2, the anchor shaft 4 acting as a drive shaft thereof protruding with a toothing section 5 into a gearbox 10 preferably consisting of a metal (aluminum) and produced in a pressure die casting method, wherein in a reception space of the gearbox 10, the toothing section 5 intermeshes with a counter toothing 1 1 of a gear wheel 15 rotatably supported in an axis 13 in the gearbox 10. The gear wheel 15 is at least indirectly coupled to a drive shaft 19 via a lever mechanism 17, and a wiper arm having the above-mentioned wiper blade can be fixed to the drive shaft (not shown). Furthermore, as can particularly be seen in conjunction with Figs. 1 to 4, the wiper motor 100 comprises a connection unit 20 which has a plug connector element 22 for the reception of electric connection lines 24 (Fig. 6). In particular, the wiper motor 100 can be actuated via the cable tree of the motor vehicle by means of the plug connector element 22 or the electric connection lines 24. Furthermore, the connection unit 20 comprises a plate-shaped carrier element 26, which carries at least one electric or electronic component (not shown), or which is connectable to an electronic circuit, which is at least indirectly connected to the carrier element 26.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the plug connector element 22, which consists of a plastic material just like the carrier element 26, is formed as an integral (monolithic) component in such a way that the electric connection lines 24 are directly connected to the plug connector element 22 and the carrier element 26 or are at least sectionally enclosed or cast-around by the material of the plug connector element 22 and the carrier element 26.

It may also be provided that the plug connector element 22 and the carrier element 26 are formed as separate components, which are connected to one another for example via a latch connection, a screw connection or another suitable connection.

The connection unit 20 is connected to a carbon brush holder plate 30 in such a way that the carbon brush holder plate 30 and the connection plate 20 form a pre- mountable construction unit 32. To that end, a latch connection 34 is formed between the carrier element 26 and the carbon brush holder plate 30. The latch connection 34 comprises latch trunnions 36 formed on the carbon brush holder plate 30, which interact with corresponding latch openings 38 in the region of the carrier element 26 in order to form the latch connection 34 when fitting the latch trunnions 36 into the latch openings 38. Furthermore, electric connection elements 40 are provided in the area of the carrier element 26 outside the area of the latch connection 34, which are approximately shaped in the type of plates and which are at least indirectly electrically connected to the electric connection lines 24. The electric connection elements 40 interact with the electric connection elements 42 arranged in the carbon brush holder plate 30, which get into an electrically conductive contact to the electric connection elements 40 when forming the latch connection 34, for example. Here, it may be provided that the electric connection elements 40, 42 are elastically pre-bent in order to rest against one another subjected to a spring force when forming the latch connection 34.

However, it may also be possible or provided to form the connection between the connection elements 40, 42 by means of a solder, crimp or weld connection, or by any other connection technique.

The electric connection elements 42 in the carbon brush holder plate 30 serve for the electric contacting of the commutator 6 of the electric motor 1 discernable in Fig. 1 .

The carbon brush holder plate 30 comprises a plate-shaped carrier region 41 with a through-opening 43 for guiding through the anchor shaft 4, wherein, if the construction unit 32 is mounted, the planes of the carrier region 41 and of the plate- shaped carrier element 26 are arranged perpendicular to one another.

Furthermore, the carrier element 26 comprises lead frame elements 44 integrally formed with the connection lines 24 on a side 28, the end sections of which are partially formed in the type of contact sections 46 (Fig. 4). Via the contact section 46, a circuit carrier 52 merely shown in Fig. 7, which carries an electronic circuit (not shown) can be connected via another latch connection 48 with latch trunnions 50 arranged at the carrier element 26, the circuit carrier 52 comprising corresponding latch openings 53 to that end. Furthermore, it can be provided that in accordance with Figs. 3 and 7, the circuit carrier 52 is covered or protected by means of a cover plate 55, wherein the cover plate 55 also participates in the further latch connection 48 via latch openings 57. In order to close the reception space of the gearbox 10 after installation of the required components, the gearbox 10 further comprises a gear cover 59, which can be connected to the gearbox 10 by means of fastenings screws 62 (Fig. 1 ).

As can be discerned in particular in conjunction with Figs. 5 and 6, two additional spring-loaded contacts 63 are provided on the side 62 of the carrier element 26 opposite the contact sections 46 in the area of the carrier element 26 in an exemplary manner, the spring-loaded contacts being electrically contacted to the electronic circuit in the area of the circuit carrier 52, for example. The contacts 63 connected to the lead frame elements 44 but against a contact element 67 arranged fixed in location to the gear wheel 15 in Fig. 6 in a spring-loaded manner with its point- shaped abutment regions 65 in the mounted state of the connection unit 20 in the gearbox 10, the contact element acting as a mating contact of the contacts 63. The position of the gear wheel 15 and thus also the position of the wiper arm and the wiper blade in the return position can be detected via the contacts 63.

The connection unit 20 in the mounted state is arranged inside the gearbox 10 in such a way that the contacts 63, in particular the abutment regions 65, are arranged at least at a partial overlap with the gear wheel 15. To that end, the gearbox 10 comprises a reception 69 with an insertion opening 71 , which interacts with the connection unit 20 in the type of a drawer. As can particularly be discerned in Figs. 2 to 5, the reception 69 comprises groove-shaped guidance elements 75 formed parallel to an insertion direction 73 interacting with mating guidance elements 77 formed at the lateral peripheral regions of the carrier element 26, in order to guide the connection unit 20 with a relatively small clearance during the insertion into the insertion opening 71 . Furthermore, a latch connection 80 is formed between the connection unit 20 and the gearbox 10 in the mounted position of the connection unit 20 in the reception 69 of the gearbox 10 (Fig. 2). By way of example, the latch connection 80 includes, as can particularly be discerned in Figs. 2 to 4, latch trunnions 82 protruding in the direction of the insertion opening 71 as well as at least one latch hook 84 arranged laterally at the carrier 26, wherein the hook interacts with a latch opening 86 (discernable in Figs. 2 and 5), and wherein the latch trunnions 82 interact with circular latch openings 88 (also discernable in Fig. 5).

When mounting the wiper motor 100, the construction unit 32 pre-mounted from the connection unit 20 and the carbon brush holder plate 30 is inserted in the reception 69 of the gearbox 10 together with the connection unit 20 all the way until the latch connection 80 is achieved. Subsequently, for example the electric motor 10 with its motor housing 2 can be connected to the gearbox 10 by means of the fastening screws 7 discernable in Fig. 1 . Here, the essential factor is that according to the illustration of Fig. 2, if the electric motor 1 or motor housing 2 is mounted, the motor housing 2 is connected to the gearbox 10 in such a way that the motor housing 2 rests against a stop surface 90 of the carrier element 26 discernable in Fig. 5 and functions there as a stop in a direction opposite to the insertion direction 73.

Fig. 8 shows a variant of the connection unit 20, in which the connection unit is not connected to the carbon brush holder plate 30, which is not shown in detail in Fig. 8. The connection unit 20a, in particular the carrier element 26a, is rather formed in such a way that it closes or covers two openings 92, 93 formed in the gearbox 10a at the outer side of the gearbox 10a in the mounted state. Here, one opening is formed in the region of the gear wheel 15, so that the contacts 63 are capable of interacting with the contact element 67. The other opening 93 allows contacting the connection elements 40 formed at the carrier element 26a with connection elements 42 arranged in the area of opening 93. To that end, the connection unit 20a is connected to the gearbox 10a in the direction of the arrow 94, wherein latch protrusions 96 as well as latch openings 97 are formed both at the connection unit 20a and at the gearbox 10a, in order to form a latch connection 80a.

The above-described wiper motor 100 or the connection unit 20, 20a can be modified or changed in various ways and manners without departing from the principles if the invention. List of reference numerals

1 motor

2 motor housing

3 anchor

4 anchor shaft

5 toothing section

6 commutator

7 fastening screw

10, 10a gearbox

1 1 counter toothing

13 axis

15 gear wheel

17 lever mechanism

19 drive shaft

20, 20a connection unit

22 plug connector element

24 connection line

26, 26a carrier element

28 side

30 carbon brush holder plate

32 construction unit

34 latch connection

36 latch trunnions

38 latch opening

40 connection element

41 carrier region

42 connection element

43 through opening

44 lead frame element contact section latch connection latch trunnion circuit carrier latch opening cover plate latch opening gear cover fastening screw side

contact abutment region contact element reception insertion opening insertion direction guidance guidance element latch connection latch trunnion latch hook latch opening latch opening stop surface opening opening arrow

latch protrusion latch opening wiper motor

Claims

1 . Connection unit (20; 20a) for a wiper motor (100) for windshield wiper systems, with a plug connector element (22) for the reception of electric connection lines (24) which are formed for the at least indirect contacting of a commutator (6) of an electric motor (1 ), and with a carrier element (26; 26a) on which at least one electric contact (63) for contacting the commutator (6) and/or at least one component of an electric circuit is arranged, characterized in that the connection unit (20; 20a) comprises means (82, 84; 96) for forming a latch connection (80; 80a) for fixing in a reception (69) of a gearbox (10; 10a).

2. Connection unit according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

the plug connector element (22) is directly connected to the carrier element (26; 26a) together with the electric connection lines (24).

3. Connection unit according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that

the carrier element (26; 26a) is formed at least essentially plate-shaped, and in that the at least one contact (63) and the at least one component of the electric circuit are arranged on different sides (28, 62) of the carrier element (26; 26a).

4. Connection unit according to one of claims 1 to 3,

characterized in that

the carrier element (26; 26a) is formed for receiving or fixing a circuit carrier (52) for an electronic circuit.

5. Connection unit according to one of claims 1 to 4,

characterized in that

the carrier element (26; 26a) forms a pre-mountable construction unit (32) together with the carbon brush holder plate (30) formed as a separate 5 component.

6. Connection unit according to claim 5,

characterized in that

the carrier element (26) is connected to the carbon brush holder plate (30) by i o means of a latch connection (34), and in that electric connection elements (42,

42) each interacting with one another are formed at the carrier element (26) and the carbon brush holder plate (30).

7. Wiper motor (100) for windshield wiper systems, with an electric motor (1 ) 15 comprising a drive shaft (4), wherein the drive shaft (4) interacts with a gear wheel (15) inside a gearbox (10; 10a), and wherein the wiper motor (100) comprises a connection unit (20; 20a) according to one of claims 1 to 6.

8. Wiper motor according to claim 7,

20 characterized in that

the gearbox (10) comprises a reception (69) with an insertion opening (71 ), into which the connection unit (20) can be inserted from the outer side of the gearbox (10) in the type of a drawer, and in that the gearbox (10) comprises latching means (82, 86) for forming a latch connection (80) with the connection 25 unit (20).

9. Wiper motor according to claim 8,

characterized in that

the electric motor (1 ) comprises a motor housing (2) separate from the 30 gearbox (10), and in that the motor housing (2) in the state mounted to the gearbox (10) forms a stop for the connection unit (20) by an abutment contact to the connection unit (20) in a direction opposite the insertion direction (73) of the connection unit (20) in the insertion opening (71 ).

10. Wiper motor according to one of claims 7 to 9,

characterized in that

the at least one contact (63) interacts with a contact element (67) arranged in the region of the gearbox (10; 10a) or the gear wheel (15), and in that a spring-loaded connection is formed between the at least one contact (18) and the contact element (67).

1 1 . Wiper motor according to one of claims 7 to 10,

characterized in that

the connection unit (20; 20a) in the mounted state in the gearbox (10; 10a) is arranged at an at least partial overlap with the gear wheel (15).

12. Wiper motor according to one of claims 8, 10 or 1 1 ,

characterized in that

guidance means (75, 77) for guiding the connection unit (20) during the insertion into the reception (69) are provided in the area of the reception (69) and the connection unit (20).

13. Wiper motor according to one of claims 7 to 12,

characterized in that

the gearbox (10; 10a) consists of metal and the connection unit (20; 20a) at least sectionally consists of plastic, and in that the connection unit (20; 20a) is closed toward the gearbox (10; 10a) with a sealant in a media-tight manner in the mounted state of the connection unit (20; 20a)

14. Wiper motor according to one of claims 7 to 13,

characterized in that the wiper motor (100) is formed as a part of a windshield wiper system for a rear wiper.