FR2885101A1 - PANTOGRAPH TYPE WIPER WITH VARIABLE ATTACHMENT ANGLE WIPER BRUSH - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a windshield wiper 1 of the pantograph type comprising a drive support 10 intended to be displaced in an alternating rotational movement, an arm 20 mounted to rotate axially with respect to the drive support 10, a broom wiper 30 movably pivoted relative to the arm 20, first means 40 controlling the axial rotation of the arm 20 as a function of the angular displacement of the drive carrier 10, and second means 50 controlling the pivoting of the wiper blade 30 according to the angular displacement of the drive support 10.The invention is remarkable in that the second control means 50 are able to generate, to transmit via a transmission member, and to convert a movement translationally in a rotational movement directly applicable to the wiper blade 30, and in that the transmission member extends substantially in the axis of rotation of the arm 20.

Description

PANTOGRAPH TYPE WIPER WITH ANGLE WIPER BRUSH

VARIABLE ATTACK

  The present invention relates to a windshield wiper having a pantograph kinematic support arm, and a wiper blade with a variable angle of attack.

  The invention finds a particularly advantageous, but not exclusive, application in the field of wipers with antagonistic arms for panoramic windshields of motor vehicles.

  Pantograph wipers are known to provide a maximum sweeping surface. They are particularly suitable for motor vehicles with panoramic windshields. Their pantograph kinematics make it possible to print a non-circular displacement movement on each wiper blade on at least certain portions of the windshield, unlike conventional windscreen wipers for which the trajectory described by each broom is always purely circular. on the entire surface of the windshield.

  There is one essential parameter to optimize the wiping quality of a pantograph wiper. This is the angle of attack of the broom, in other terrnes its inclination relative to the normal surface of the windshield, at its point of connection with the arm.

  It is also known that an angle of attack close to 8 degrees makes it possible to guarantee optimum operation of the scraper blade of the wiper blade, and that it is compatible with the need for said scraper blade to be turned over during the first time. reversal of the scanning direction of the windscreen wiper.

  Or the shape of a windshield is almost always irregular, especially at its side edges. To obtain maximum efficiency in terms of wiping, it is therefore necessary to vary the inclination of the wiper blade relative to the arm as a function of the effective position of said blade along the windshield, so that the angle of attack of said blade remains substantially constant regardless of the curvature of the windshield portion concerned.

  Thus, there is now a class of windscreen wipers which has both a pantograph kinematic modifying the inclination of the wiper blade relative to the arm in a plane substantially parallel to the surface to be wiped. , and a mobility varying the angle of attack of said wiper blade relative to said surface to be wiped. It should be noted that the ability to vary the angle of attack of the wiper is generally obtained by giving the arm a certain mobility in axial rotation, and coupling the movement of the arm in question with the sweeping motion of the wiper. -ice cream.

  Such wipers are schematically constituted by a support on which is mounted movably in axial rotation an arm whose free end is integral with a wiper blade pivotally mounted. The assembly is arranged so that the support is able to be driven in displacement in an alternating rotational movement, so that the axis of rotation of the arm is substantially perpendicular to the scan axis of the wiper, and that the pivot axis of the wiper blade is substantially parallel to the scan axis. Control means are also provided to respectively ensure the axial rotation of the arm and the pivoting of the wiper, depending on the angular displacement of the support.

  This type of wiper however has the disadvantage of being extremely bulky because the pantograph kinetics is conventionally obtained by producing a deformable parallelogram from the rotating main support arm, which schematically amounts to adding audit main support arm, a secondary arm in off-center position.

  This excessive congestion has the first consequence of significantly impairing the driver's field of vision, whether the wiper is in use or stationary off position. This turns out to be extremely penalizing in terms of approval and security, while being particularly unsightly.

  Also the technical problem to be solved by the object of the present invention is to provide a pantograph-type wiper comprising: a drive support intended to be displaced in an alternating rotational movement around an axis sweeping device which is substantially perpendicular to the surface to be wiped, - an arm mounted to rotate axially with respect to the drive carrier, along an axis of rotation which is substantially perpendicular to the scanning axis, - a sweeper arm wiper movably pivoted relative to the arm, along a so-called pivot axis which is substantially parallel to the scan axis, - first means controlling the axial rotation of the arm as a function of the angular displacement of the drive carrier, - as second means controlling the pivoting of the wiper blade as a function of the angular displacement of the drive carrier.

  The invention proposes a windshield wiper which would make it possible to avoid the problems of the state of the art by notably offering a substantially reduced bulk while preserving the efficiency of the scanning with pantograph kinematics as well as the capacity of variation of the angle of attack of the wiper blade.

  The solution to the technical problem posed consists, according to the present invention, in that the second control means are able: to generate a translational movement at the drive support, to transmit this translation movement along the arm up to to the pivot axis of the wiper blade, via a transmission member, and converting said translational movement into a rotational movement directly applicable to said wiper blade, and the transmission member extends substantially in the axis of rotation of the arm. io

  The invention as thus defined has the advantage of offering optimum compactness since everything is recentered at the axis of rotation of the arm, in particular the various control means.

  Such a structure also allows to group the bulk of the mechanisms in a relatively tight assembly to external elements and other soils. It is thus possible to significantly improve the reliability and the life of this type of windshield wiper.

  It should be noted that the drive support takes its name as well as it ensures the coupling in displacement between the windshield wiper and any motor means, that because it participates in the drive. rotation of the arm on the one hand, and the drive in pivoting of the brush on the other hand.

  Of course, any known mechanism can be used within the second control means to generate the translational movement. In the same way, the conversion of the translation movement into rotational movement can be carried out within the second control means by any conversion mechanism of the state of the art.

  The present invention also relates to the features which will emerge during the following description, which should be considered in isolation or in all their possible technical combinations.

  This description, given by way of non-limiting example, is intended to better understand what the invention is and how it can be achieved. It is also given with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates in perspective a pantograph type wiper, which is 3o according to the invention.

  Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, which more particularly highlights the different mobilities which is provided with the wiper.

  Figure 3 shows the wiper in longitudinal section.

  Figure 4 is a longitudinal section showing in detail the mechanical connection and the interactions between the drive carrier and the wiper arm.

  Figure 5 is an exploded view showing distinctly the structure of the first and second control means which is provided with the wiper.

  Figure 6 is also an exploded, which shows the structure of the proximal part of the arm.

  Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5, which further demonstrates the operation of the first and second control means.

  8 shows in perspective from below guide means which are associated with the first and second control means.

  FIG. 9 illustrates a wiper device with opposing wipers, which is intended for a motor vehicle with a panoramic windshield.

  For the sake of clarity, the same elements have been designated by identical references. Likewise, only the essential elements for understanding the invention have been represented, and this without regard to the scale and in a schematic manner.

  Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a wiper 1 pantograph type which is intended to equip a wiper device 100 to antagonistic arms as shown in Figure 9; said wiper device 100 being itself intended to be mounted on a motor vehicle with panoramic windshield.

  Anyway, the wiper 1 is first provided with a drive support 10 which is intended to be driven in displacement in an alternating rotational movement about a so-called scanning axis B The assembly is arranged so that this scanning axis B is substantially perpendicular to the surface to be wiped, and in this case to the windshield.

  The windscreen wiper 1 is then provided with an arm 20 which is mounted in axial rotation with respect to the drive support 10. This mobility is exerted here along an axis of rotation R which is substantially perpendicular to the scanning axis B, and therefore substantially parallel to the surface to be wiped.

  The wiper 1 also comprises a wiper blade 30 which is pivotally mounted at the end of the arm 20 along a so-called pivot axis P. This latter extends substantially parallel to the scanning axis B, and therefore substantially perpendicular to the surface to be wiped on the one hand and the axis of rotation R on the other hand.

  The windscreen wiper 1 also comprises first control means 40 which are able to generate the axial rotation of the arm 20, as a function of the angular displacement of the driving support 10.

  The windscreen wiper 1 finally has second control means 50 which are able to generate the pivoting of the wiper blade 30 as a function of the angular displacement of the drive support 10.

  According to the object of the present invention, the second control means 50 are able to generate a translational movement at the drive support 10. They are then able to transmit this translational movement along the arm 20 and via a transmission member 60 to the pivot axis P of the wiper blade 30. The second control means 50 are finally able to convert the translational movement into a rotational movement directly. applicable to the wiper blade 30. The assembly is also arranged so that the transmission member 60 extends substantially in the axis of rotation R of the arm 20.

  According to a feature of the invention visible in particular in Figures 3 and 4, the mechanical connection between the arm 20 and the drive carrier 10 is provided by a hollow shaft 21 which is integral with said arm 20, and which is on the other hand mounted to rotate axially relative to said drive carrier 10. The assembly is arranged so that the recess 22, present inside the hollow shaft 21, is able to receive the transmission member 60 positioned along the axis of rotation R of the arm 20. i0

  The fact that the hollow shaft 21 is integral with the arm 20 means that it can indifferently be constituted by an independent element that is rigidly attached to said arm 20, or be an integral part of the arm 20, that is to say does not forming a single piece with said arm 20.

  It should be noted that the notion of hollow shaft 21 here relates very generally to any shape which is able to be guided in rotation about a given axis and which is provided with an internal recess 22 extending precisely at the level of of the axis of rotation in question. For example, one thinks of a tubular axis, a cylinder dug longitudinally at its central axis, or a cylinder cut radially along its entire length.

  Thus, the recess 22 may take the form of a cylindrical housing in the case of a tubular shaft, a through-hole in the case of a hollow cylinder, a deep groove in the housing. case of a tree notched radially.

  As can be seen more clearly in Figure 6, the hollow shaft 21 has a composite structure. It is indeed coupled by force assembly with a ball joint 23, a guide ring 24 and a ball 25. Of course, all these elements could be replaced by a single piece. Similarly, going even further, this set could very well be one with the rest of the arm 20.

  According to a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the first control means 40 are first provided with a rod 41 which is mounted to move in translation relative to the drive support 10, in a substantially parallel direction. to the axis of rotation R of the arm 20.

  The first control means 40 furthermore have a cam 42 which is fixed relative to the drive support 10, and which cooperates slidably with an end 43 of the rod 41.

  It is observed that in this particular embodiment, the end 43 is in the form of a finger which is able to slide in the cam profile 42 in the form of a curved groove (FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 8). .

  The other end 44 of the link 41 comprises a first coupling element 45 which cooperates in sliding with a second coupling element 25 integral with the arm 20, in a direction substantially oblique with respect to the axis of rotation R of the arm 20. Finally, the cam 42 is provided with a profile which is able to drive the rod 41 in translation when the drive carrier 10 is rotated about the scanning axis B; the axial translation of the rod 41 then being able to cause the axial rotation of the arm 20.

  Particularly advantageously, the first coupling element 45 and the second coupling element 25 are constituted respectively and indifferently by an oblique light and a projecting tenon.

  According to another characteristic of this preferred embodiment, the second control means 50 firstly comprise a rod 51 which is mounted to move in translation relative to the drive support 10, in a direction substantially co-linear with the axis of rotation R of the arm 20 (FIG. 8).

  The second control means 50 are also provided with a cam 52 which is fixed relative to the drive support 10, and which slidably cooperates with an end 53 of the rod 51 (FIG. 7).

  It will be noted here again that in the embodiment chosen, the end 53 is in the form of a finger which is able to slide in the cam profile 52 in the form of a curved groove (FIGS. 4, 5, 7). and 8).

  The other end 54 of the rod 51 is secured to the transmission member 60. It has for this a housing 55 which is able to cooperate by interlocking with an anchor element 65 integral with the transmission member 60 (FIG. 8).

  Finally, the cam 52 has a profile that is able to drive the link 51 in translation when the drive carrier 10 is rotated about the scan axis B (Figure 7).

  Particularly advantageously, the cam 42 of the first control means 40 and the cam 52 of the second control means 50 are part of a single piece (Figures 5 and 7).

  According to another feature of the invention that can be seen in particular in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8, the windscreen wiper 1 further comprises means 70 which are able to guide the translational movement propagated by the transmission member 60.

  In this embodiment, the guiding means 70 comprise a main slide 71 which is able to cooperate in longitudinal sliding with the link 51 of the second control means 50, thus guiding the axial translation of said link 51 (FIGS. 5, 7). and 8).

  Particularly advantageously, the guiding means 70 are further provided with a secondary slide 72 which is able to cooperate in longitudinal sliding with the link 41 of the first control means 40, thus guiding the axial translation of said link 41 ( Figures 5, 7 and 8).

  In particular in accordance with Figures 7 and 8, in this embodiment, the main slide 71 and the secondary slide 72 are part of a single piece. This feature makes it possible first of all to simplify the structure and to facilitate assembly, but also to precisely fix the relative positions between the first control means 40 and the second control means 50.

  According to another particularity of the invention, the transmission member 60 extends inside the arm 20 as can clearly be seen in FIG.

  Particularly advantageously, the transmission member 60 is flexible, that is to say that its structure is flexible while being longitudinally inextensible. It should be noted that this characteristic is entirely appropriate in the case where, as in the example chosen here to illustrate the invention, the arm 20 is provided with a hinge allowing it to be raised in view by example of performing a change of wiper blade 30.

  In this presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the transmission member 60 is constituted by a sheathed cable whose head forms the anchoring element 65 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 8).

  According to another feature of the invention, the arm 20 is articulated close to the drive support 10, along a so-called articulation axis A which is substantially perpendicular to the scanning axes B and rotation R (FIGS. 2 to 4). . This means in other words that the hinge axis A is oriented substantially parallel to the surface to be wiped. In any event, the assembly is furthermore arranged in such a way that the transmission member 60 extends in the direct vicinity of the hinge axis A. This characteristic proves particularly advantageous since it is necessary to raise the arm 20, for example to change the wiper blade 30. The passage of the transmission member 60 closer to the hinge axis A avoids the problems of deformation of the transmission member in the event that of course, that has a flexible structure.

  Of course, the invention also relates and more generally any motor vehicle with at least one wiper 1 as previously described. In particular, motor vehicles equipped with panoramic windshields and wiper with antagonist arms similar to that of FIG.

Claims (15)

  1 pantograph type wiper (1) comprising: - a drive support (10) intended to be displaced in an alternating rotational movement about a so-called scanning axis (B) which is substantially perpendicular to the surface wiping, - an arm (20) mounted to rotate axially with respect to the drive carrier (10), along an axis of rotation (R) which is substantially perpendicular to the scanning axis (B), a wiper blade (30) pivotably mounted relative to the arm (20), along a so-called pivot axis (P) which is substantially parallel to the scanning axis (B), - first means (40) controlling the axial rotation of the arm (20) as a function of the angular displacement of the drive support (10), - as well as second means (50) controlling the pivoting of the wiper blade (30) as a function of the angular displacement of the support driving device (10), characterized in that the second control means (50) are suitable: generating a translational movement at the drive carrier (10), - transmitting this translational movement along the arm (20) to the pivot axis (P) of the wiper blade (30), via a transmission member (60), and converting said translational movement into a rotational movement directly applicable to said wiper blade (30), and that the transmission member (60) extends substantially in the axis of rotation (R) of the arm (20).   2. Wiper (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the mechanical connection between the arm (20) and the drive carrier (10) is provided by a hollow shaft (21) which is on the one hand secured to said arm (20) and which is further mounted rotatably in axial rotation with respect to said drive carrier (10), and in that the recess (22) present inside the hollow shaft ( 21) is adapted to receive the transmission member (60) positioned along the axis of rotation (R) of the arm (20).   3. Wiper (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the first control means (40) comprise: a rod (41) which is mounted movable in translation relative to the support of driving (10), in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation (R) of the arm (20), - a cam (42) which is fixed relative to the drive carrier (10) and which cooperates in sliding with one end (43) of the link (41), the other end (44) of the connecting rod (41) having a first coupling element (45) which cooperates in sliding with a second coupling element (25) integral with the arm (20), in a direction substantially oblique with respect to the axis of rotation (R) of the arm (20), and in that the cam (42) is provided with a profile capable of driving the rod (41) in translation when the drive carrier (10) is rotated about the scanning axis (B), the axial translation of the link (41) being to cause the axial rotation of the arm (20).   4. Windscreen wiper (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the first coupling element (45) and the second coupling element (25) are constituted respectively and indifferently by an oblique light and a projecting tenon.   5. wiper (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second control means (50) comprise: a rod (51) which is mounted movable in translation relative to the support of driving (10), in a direction substantially co-linear with the axis of rotation (R) of the arm (20), - a cam (52) which is fixed relative to the drive carrier (10) and which cooperates in sliding with one end (53) of the rod (51), - the other end (54) of the rod (51) being integral with the transmission member (60), and in that the cam (52) is provided with a profile adapted to drive the rod (51) in translation when the drive carrier (10) is rotated about the scan axis (B).   6. Wiper (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the cam (42) of the first control means (40) and the cam (52) of the second control means (50) are part of one and the same room.   Windscreen wiper (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises means (70) capable of guiding the translational movement propagated by the transmission member (60).   8. wiper (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the guide means (70) comprise a main slide (71) which is adapted to cooperate in longitudinal sliding with the link (51) second control means (50).   9. Wiper (1) according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the guide means (70) further comprise a secondary slide (72) which is adapted to cooperate in longitudinal sliding with the rod ( 41) of the first control means (40).   10. Wiper (1) according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the main slide (71) and the secondary slide (72) are part of a single piece.   Windscreen wiper (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the arm (20) is articulated close to the driving support (10), along a so-called articulation axis (A). ) which is substantially perpendicular to the scanning (B) and rotation (R) axes, and in that the transmission member (60) extends in the direct vicinity of the hinge axis (A).   12 ,. Wiper (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the transmission member (60) extends inside the arm (20).   13. Wiper (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the transmission member (60) is flexible.   Windscreen wiper (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the transmission member (60) consists of a sheathed cable.   15. Motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least one windscreen wiper (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.