Patent Application
20240253600
The invention relates to a streamlined windscreen wiper for motor vehicles, and more particularly to an articulation means for said streamlined windscreen wiper.
In vehicle windscreen wipers, it has become more and more desirable to integrate a streamlining aspect into the windscreen wiper, to the extent that the streamline elements form a substantial portion of the structure of the windscreen wiper. Such windscreen wipers are commonly referred to as “hybrid” windscreen wipers.
A streamlined aspect presents a number of advantages, most notably reducing the drag force from the airflow incident on the windscreen wiper. The streamlined shape may also notably be configured to generate a downforce on the wiper when air flows over it, pressing the wiper into the windscreen and improving wiping performance. The streamlined shape also presents a more pleasing aesthetic aspect than a windscreen wiper configured in the more traditional style of nested tournament arms.
Generally, the streamlining aspect is implemented in the form of a rigid fairing that forms a portion of the structure of the windscreen wiper. The fairing generally comprises several individual pieces, which are articulated to each other so as to permit the wiper blade to flex and follow the curvature of the windscreen as the windscreen wiper passes over it. Additionally, and depending upon the length of the blade, the wiper may include a single level of tournament arms (also known as “calipers”) articulated to the fairing which retain the wiper rubber, to more evenly distribute the force of the wiper arm along the length of the wiper blade.
In this way, the fairing constitutes a significant part of the structure of the windscreen wiper, simplifying its construction.
Since the central mounting and the end caps are rigid components, and since the wiper blade must be able to flex in order to follow the curvature of the windscreen, there must be some sort of articulation means provided that permits the end caps to pivot relative to the central mounting. In particular, since the wiper blade must follow the curvature of the windscreen while maintaining a high degree of wiping performance through its entire trajectory, the articulation of the end caps to the central mounting must permit a free rotation about a transverse axis, but be rigid and robust in every other direction and about every other axis.
One way to accomplish this is by providing an adapter element, which attaches to one of the central mounting or the end cap and furnishes a point to which the other of the central mounting and end cap is articulated. Such a solution is advantageous in that it is cost-effective and easy to implement, especially in comparison to an articulation which is formed integrally with the central mounting and end cap.
However, such a configuration can be disadvantageous, in that the extra component of the adaptor element can introduce an additional degree of tolerance into the assembly of the windscreen wiper, and consequently reduced rigidity of the articulation. Additionally, the adapter element will necessarily be subject to a variety of different forces during the operation of the windscreen wiper, deflecting and twisting under them.
In extreme cases, this may result in the disarticulation of the windscreen wiper under heavy loading situations, such as in automatic car washes or under heavy ice or snow loads. Such situations are not usual, in that they are not ordinarily encountered during the usage of the windscreen wiper in most situations, but are nonetheless not unforeseeable in normal use.
There is thus a need for a windscreen wiper which addresses at least in part the aforementioned difficulties.
According, therefore, to a first aspect, there is provided a streamlined windscreen wiper, in particular for a vehicle, comprising a longitudinal wiper blade, a longitudinal streamlined fairing comprising a central mounting and at least one end cap disposed at a distal end of said central mounting; at least one adapter element fixed to the central mounting at a distal end thereof, the adapter element comprising a central web and two legs extending substantially perpendicularly from opposing edges of said central web, one of said at least one end caps being articulated to said adapter element, and a retention means comprising a first portion formed in said adapter and engaging a complementary second portion extending from a lower surface of the central mounting.
According to the invention, the first portion of the retention means comprises a tongue extending from the central web of the adapter element at a longitudinal extremity thereof.
This is advantageous in that it provides a simple and economically-manufactured means for reinforcing the connection between the adapter element and the central mounting of the windscreen wiper. In particular, the engagement of the retention means increases the resistance of the windscreen wiper to lateral and torsional forces, preventing the disassembly of the windscreen wiper under particularly high load conditions.
Other features and refinements of the invention beyond the aspect described above may be additionally be envisioned, and freely combined with each other in any quantity or combination.
In a possible embodiment, the tongue extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the central web of the adapter element.
Preferably, the second portion of the retention means comprises a pair of opposed lateral faces disposed on a lower surface of the central mounting, said opposed lateral faces being engaged by the first portion of the retention means.
Particularly preferably, the retention means further comprises a transverse face disposed on a lower surface of the central mounting, said transverse face being engaged by the first portion of the retention means.
In another possible embodiment, the windscreen wiper further comprises a locating pin extending from said central mounting and engaging a complementary structure formed in the adapter element.
Preferably, the locating pin has a cross-section having a substantially circular and/or cruciform shape.
Most preferably, the locating pin is tapered in a direction extending from said central mounting towards a distal end of said locating pin.
According to a second aspect, the invention is directed towards a windscreen wiper system, comprising a wiper arm, a drive motor configured to drive the wiper arm in a reciprocating motion, and a windscreen wiper as described above.
According to a third aspect, the invention is directed towards a vehicle comprising a windscreen wiper or a windscreen wiper system as described above.
These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated when considered in the light of the included Figures, wherein:
The invention will be better understood in the context of the Figures, and in light of the following discussion.
To assist the comprehension of the Figures in relation to the following discussion, it should first be noted that, in each of the Figures, a set of axes is described. It will be apparent that these axes follow the general sense of the windscreen wiper: the axis L corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the windscreen wiper, i.e. along the length of the windscreen wiper 100; the axis T corresponds to the transverse direction, i.e. across the width of the windscreen wiper 100; and the axis V corresponds to the vertical direction of the windscreen wiper, i.e. through the height of the windscreen wiper 100.
Moreover, while the following discussion is oriented towards a single articulation of the windscreen wiper 100, it will be readily understood that a windscreen wiper could comprise the invention on one or several articulations thereof.
Additionally, when relative terms such as “upper” and “lower” are employed, it will be understood that such terms are used in reference to the windscreen wiper when placed with the rubber wiper blade on a horizontal plane, with “upper” and “lower” in particular being used in reference to the force of gravity in the ordinary fashion.
Each of the end caps 110 is pivotally articulated to the central mounting 105.
The articulation between the end cap 110 and the central mounting 105 is formed by way of an adapter element 200. The adapter element 200 comprises a central web 205 and two legs 210 extending substantially perpendicular from opposite lateral edges of the central web 205. The adapter element 200 is thus provided in the form of an inverted “U”, when assembled in a windscreen wiper.
The adapter element 200 may be formed of metal, in particular sheet metal such as mild or spring steel, or aluminum. The properties of such materials are well-known in the art, and generally inexpensive to manufacture. Alternatively, the adapter element 200 may be provided in a plastic material, and may be fabricated by injection molding or similar processes. Such adapter elements are particularly advantageous in that, being fabricated from plastic, they are both lightweight and corrosion-resistant.
The adapter element 200 is securely attached to the lower surface 215 of the central mounting 105 and extends longitudinally from the central mounting 105, terminating in an articulation 220 which is disposed longitudinally outside the central mounting 105 as illustrated. The articulation 220 is formed by two bores 225 (of which one is illustrated) provided in each of the legs 210, outboard of the central mounting 105. The two bores are engaged by complementary pivot pins 230 (of which one is illustrated), formed integrally with the end cap 110 on an interior surface thereof.
In this way, the end caps 110 are pivotally articulated to the central mounting 105, permitting them to pivot about a transverse axis formed by the two pivot pins 230.
Additionally, the adapter element 200 comprises a caliper pivot axis 235, upon which the caliper (not illustrated) is pivotally mounted. In this way, the windscreen wiper will flex to conform to the curvature of the windscreen, ensuring an effective wiping by the rubber wiper blade.
The adapter element 200 is fixed in place in the central mounting 105 by a number of different structures. The adapter element 200 is principally retained by the clips 240, which extend from the interior surface of the central mounting 105 and engage the two legs 210 of the adapter element 200 so as to retain it in the vertical direction V, i.e. to prevent it from falling out of the bottom of the windscreen wiper 100.
However, the clips 240 are not necessarily effective at fixing the adapter element 200 in the longitudinal or transverse directions, particularly when the windscreen wiper is placed under heavy transverse or torsional (in particular about the longitudinal axis) loads. Such loading may occur particularly when the wiper system is actuated when the windscreen wiper is covered in ice or snow, or when the vehicle is contacted by the brushes of an automatic car wash.
To that end, the adapter element 200 is further provided with a retention means 245 in complement to the hooks 210. The retention means 245 is comprised of two portions: a first portion formed in the adapter element 200 and extending from the central web 205, and a second portion formed in the central mounting 105.
The first portion is, in this embodiment, constituted by the tongue 250, which extends from the central web 205 at a proximal extremity thereof (noting that the articulation 220 is at the opposite, distal extremity). In the illustrated embodiment, the tongue 250 extends substantially perpendicularly from the central web 205; however, it will be understood that in other embodiments of the invention the angle at which the tongue 250 extends may be acute or oblique.
The second portion of the retention means is constituted by the shoulders 255a, 255b. The shoulders 225a, 225b are formed in the lower surface of the central mounting 105, and are positioned such that when the adapter element 200 is disposed in the central mounting 105 as shown in
In this way, lateral motion of the tongue 250, and consequently lateral (i.e. in the transverse direction T) and torsional deformation (i.e. about the longitudinal axis L) of the adapter element 200, are reliably constrained.
In this way, the adapter element is rendered more resistant to particularly heavy loading situations, such as those encountered when the windscreen wiper 100 is covered in ice and/or snow, or when the vehicle is in an automatic car wash and subjected to the action of automatic brushes and rollers.
In particular, the positioning of the shoulders 225a, 225b to laterally-opposed sides of the tongue 250 will prevent it from twisting about the longitudinal axis L, which may be The windscreen wiper 100 is thus rendered much less likely to break or become disarticulated under such extreme conditions.
Optionally, and advantageously, the width of the tongue 250 and/or the spacing between the shoulders 225a, 225b may be controlled such that the tongue 250 is wedged between the shoulders 225a, 225b and retained in place by friction. Such a configuration will provide additional rigidity to the windscreen wiper in cases where a maximal degree of resistance is required.
Also optionally, the central mounting 105 may be provided with a third shoulder (not illustrated, disposed in the transverse direction T between the shoulders 225a, 225b, to provide additional solidity to the adapter element 200 in the longitudinal direction L. Such a shoulder is formed integrally with the central mounting 105 in the same manner as the shoulders 225a, 225b.
Optionally, the windscreen wiper 100 may be provided with a locating pin 260, which extends from the central mounting and engages a locating hole 265 disposed in the central web 205 of the adapter element 200. This will be discussed in detail in reference to
In
For instance, it may be advantageous to provide such texturing in a particular orientation, so as to favor deformation of the adapter element in a certain direction which is not likely to cause malfunction of the windscreen wiper, and thus reduce the windscreen wiper's propensity towards harmful deformations. The particular form and disposition of such texturing will necessarily depend on the particular embodiment, and the skilled person will be capable of determining such.
There may further be provided a locating pin 260, which engages a complementary locating hole 265 in the adapter element 200 (illustrated in
The locating pin 260 is of substantially cylindrical form and extends from a lower surface of the central mounting 105 (here illustrated upside-down). The locating pin 260 is here provided in a substantially cruciform shape; this reduces the overall weight of the locating pin, without sacrificing its ability to precisely locate the adapter element 200 with respect to the central mounting 105. Of course, other cross-sectional forms (e.g. circular, elliptical, or polygonal) may be envisioned.
Optionally, the locating pin 260 may be tapered, in the direction extending from the central mounting to a distal end of the locating pin 260. The locating pin 260 more particularly comprises tapered faces 305 (of which two are illustrated for clarity). In this way, the locating pin 260 will automatically center itself in a corresponding hole in the adapter element 200, further improving the repeatability and precision of locating.
In particular, the tongue 250 is depicted, and in
Additionally,
Alternatively, and as illustrated here, the locating hole 265 is extended in the vertical direction V by a locating hole collar 310. The provision of the locating hole collar 310 will further improve the precision and accuracy of the positioning effect provided by the positioning pin 265; in a particularly advantageous embodiment, the locating hole collar 310 may be tapered in a manner complementary to the tapered faces 305 of the locating pin 260.
Of course, the skilled person will recognize that other permutations or combinations of the aspects described above may be possible, without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2107627 | Jul 2021 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2022/069603 | 7/13/2022 | WO |
