Patent Application
20130139342
The invention relates to a wiper device for cleaning a vehicle windscreen according to the preamble of claim 1.
A wiper device of this kind is disclosed by the applicant in EP1 918 167 A1. The known wiper device exhibits a spray device constructed in the form of a hose, which extends spaced parallel to the wiper blade by means of fastening clips which are arranged on the wiper blade of the wiper device. Bores may be made in the hose, which form spray openings for the application of a washing fluid to the vehicle windscreen. The disadvantage of the wiper device known from the aforementioned specification is that when a wiper blade is replaced, the hose has to be separated from the wiper blade in each case and refitted to the new wiper blade. Moreover, the spray device is not protected from the outside environment, which means that leaves or the like can collect between the wiper blade and the spray device, impeding the wiping function of the wiper blade.
Starting from the state of the art, the problem addressed by the invention is that of developing a wiper device for cleaning a vehicle windscreen according to the preamble of claim 1, such that when a wiper blade is replaced no increased assembly work is required. Moreover, a fitting offering protection wherever possible or a possibly protected arrangement of the spray device in the area of the wiper blade should be facilitated, so that functional impairments, as in the state of the art, can be reliably avoided. This problem is solved according to the invention with a wiper device for cleaning a vehicle windscreen having the characteristics of claim 1, in that the wiper arm has a hood-shaped cover for the wiper blade, which covers the wiper blade at least substantially over its entire length, and in that the spray device is arranged in the area of the cover.
Advantageous developments of the wiper device according to the invention for cleaning a vehicle windscreen are set out in the dependent claims. All combinations of at least two of the features disclosed in the claims, the description and/or the figures fall within the framework of the invention.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention in design terms, it is provided that the spray device is configured as a separate component to the cover in the area of the cover and is connected to the cover. The functional separation referred to between the wiper blade and the spray device is thereby achieved, in that the spray device is connected to the cover, such that when the wiper blade is replaced the spray device can remain on the cover.
A particularly simply configured spray device is made possible when the spray device comprises at least one washing fluid hose, in which the nozzle openings are constructed as bores. Consequently, no separate components forming the nozzle openings are required; instead, the washing fluid hose providing the washing fluid supply directly forms the nozzle openings.
In order to prevent washing fluid from escaping from the open end of the washing fluid hose in the area of the wiper blade, it is furthermore proposed in a particularly preferred embodiment that the open end of the washing fluid hose is closed by means of a plug-like holder in the cover. This holder may simultaneously serve to position or fix the washing fluid hose within the cover, so that the holder performs a dual function.
In an alternative embodiment for using a washing fluid hose it is possible, however, for the spray device to be configured integrally within the cover and to exhibit a washing fluid duct from which the nozzle openings originate. A washing fluid duct of this kind may be achieved when producing the cover, in that said cover is configured as an injection moulded part or as an extruded part, so that the washing fluid duct is formed when the cover is produced by means of a correspondingly designed mould, which means that separate subsequent production stages can be avoided.
A particularly good spray device function is achieved when the nozzle openings of the spray device are arranged along both longitudinal sides of the wiper blade. In this case, independently of the direction of movement of the wiper blade, washing fluid is applied to the vehicle windscreen right in front of the wiper blade or a wiper lip in each case.
To enable the wiper blade to be replaced on the wiper arm without difficulty, it is proposed, moreover, that the cover has a part connected to a wiper arm joint, on which a pivotable part is arranged, that the rotation axis of the pivotable part is arranged in the region of the fastening of the wiper blade on the part which is connected to the wiper arm joint, and that the pivotable part is connected to the wiper blade, preferably via a detent connection. A cover design of this kind enables the pivotable part of the cover to be pivoted away in order replace the wiper blade, so that the fastening area of the wiper blade is accessible.
The functionality or operating safety of the spray device may be further improved at low outside temperatures if the spray device is constructed so as to be heatable by means of a heating device having a heating wire.
The wiper device according to the invention has the advantage that it can work with wiper blades of any construction or design, so that wiper blades which can be produced relatively simply and therefore inexpensively from a constructional point of view can be used.
Nevertheless, due to the use of the spray device and the optional use of the heating device, the wiper device has a high functional range, which ensures optimal functioning of the wiper device even under relatively difficult environmental conditions. It is preferably provided that the wiper device is arranged in the area of a rear windscreen wiper, as in this case the cover is able to perform the additional protective function for the wiper blade or the spray device. Moreover, wiper devices for front windscreens usually have covers, particularly in the form of the engine bonnet, which restrict the possible installation space for a cover (on the wiper blade) or guarantee adequate protection of the spray device against outside atmospheric influences when the wiper blades are in the stationary position.
Further features, advantages and details of the invention are obtained from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments and also with the help of the drawing.
In the drawing:
The same components or components with the same function are denoted using the same reference numbers in the figures.
A wiper device 10 for cleaning a vehicle windscreen (not shown) is depicted in
The wiper device 10 exhibits a wiper arm 11, which is pivot-mounted on a wiper arm joint 12 in an axis 13. A wiper blade 15 is fastened exchangeably on a wiper arm 11, which exhibits a wiper lip 16 on the side facing the vehicle windscreen (
The wiper arm 11 forms a cover 20 which contains the wiper blade 15 over its entire length on the side facing away from the vehicle windscreen, at least in the area of the wiper blade 15. As is particularly evident from
In the exemplary embodiment shown, the cover 20 is an integral part of the wiper arm 11, such that at least the first part 23 is formed by the wiper arm 11. In this case, the first part 23 of the wiper arm 11 is configured as a press-bent part. The second part 24 of the wiper arm 11 or the cover 20 may likewise be made of metal, as with the wiper arm 11 or the first part 23. It is also possible, however, for the second part 24 to be made of plastic. Furthermore, it is conceivable in principle for the cover 20 also to be configured as a separate part from the wiper arm 11.
As is most clearly evident from
As can be seen from
It is provided according to the invention that the wiper device 10 exhibits a spray device 40 for applying washing fluid to the vehicle windscreen. The spray device 40 comprises at least one, but in the exemplary embodiment depicted in the figures, two washing fluid hoses 41, 42. The two washing fluid hoses 41, 42 are conducted within the wiper arm 11 or the cover 20 and connected on the vehicle side to a storage container for the washing fluid. The end sections of the two washing fluid hoses 41, 42 facing the wiper blade 15 engage with two plug-like extensions 43, 44 shown in
In
The washing fluid hoses 41, 42 and 41a, 41b exhibit nozzle openings 50 on the side facing the vehicle windscreen, which, as is only evident from
As a variation to the exemplary embodiments of the spray device 40 shown in the figures, it is also conceivable for the nozzle openings 50 to be configured as an integral component of the cover 20, in that the cover 20 exhibits corresponding washing fluid ducts on the underside facing the vehicle windscreen and the nozzle openings 50 are configured as bores in the cover 20, which open into the washing fluid ducts. In this case, however, additional provisions must be made in order to achieve pivotability between the two parts 23, 24, i.e. in the dividing point between the two parts 23, 24 in the area of the washing fluid ducts, corresponding sealing measures are taken.
In addition, it may be provided that alongside the spray device 40 a heating device 60 is also provided, which serves to safeguard the functioning of the spray device at low temperatures. For this purpose, the heating device 60, as can only be seen from
The wiper device 10 described thus far may be changed or modified in multifarious ways without deviating from the basic idea underlying the invention. This idea is that a spray device 40 is provided in the area of a cover 20 for the wiper blade 15, wherein the wiper blade 15 may be of any design and requires no additional measures in relation to the spray device 40. As a variation to the invention, it is also conceivable that the cover and therefore also the spray device 40 does not extend over the entire length of the wiper blade 15. However, the cover 20 or the spray device 40 should extend at least substantially, i.e. at least by roughly 80%, over the length of the wiper blade 15.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2011 055 962.0 | Dec 2011 | DE | national |
