GB2109674A - Windscreen wiper pivot assembly - Google Patents
Windscreen wiper pivot assembly Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2109674A GB2109674A GB08135134A GB8135134A GB2109674A GB 2109674 A GB2109674 A GB 2109674A GB 08135134 A GB08135134 A GB 08135134A GB 8135134 A GB8135134 A GB 8135134A GB 2109674 A GB2109674 A GB 2109674A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- annular
- spring washer
- windscreen wiper
- bore
- stepped
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 8
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 8
- 239000004519 grease Substances 0.000 description 5
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000004677 Nylon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910000639 Spring steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052500 inorganic mineral Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011707 mineral Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001778 nylon Polymers 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
- B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
- B60S1/04—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers
- B60S1/32—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by constructional features of wiper blade arms or blades
- B60S1/34—Wiper arms; Mountings therefor
- B60S1/3488—Means for mounting wiper arms onto the vehicle
- B60S1/3493—Means for mounting the wiper shaft in the wiper bearing
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
- B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
- B60S1/04—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers
- B60S1/32—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by constructional features of wiper blade arms or blades
- B60S1/34—Wiper arms; Mountings therefor
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Pivots And Pivotal Connections (AREA)
- Motor Or Generator Frames (AREA)
Abstract
A windscreen wiper pivot assembly 10 comprises a tubular housing 12 having a central bore 14 therein having a stepped annular recess 18 at one end and a flat annular bearing surface 16 at the other end. Pivotally mounted within the bore is a cylindrical bearing portion 26 of a cranked pivot arm 24. A stressed curved annular wave spring washer 48 having at least two teeth 52, 54 is fixed within recess 18 in contact with spring ring 46 located in groove 36 in the cylindrical bearing portion. This arrangement is said to reduce to a minimum the possibility of end float developing between the pivot arm and tubular housing. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Windscreen wiper pivot assembly
This invention relates to windscreen wiper pivot assemblies, in particular to windscreen wiper pivot assemblies of the type in which a cranked pivot arm has secured adjacent one end thereof a cylindrical pivot member, which cylindrical pivot member is pivotally mounted in a central bore of a tubular housing.
Windscreen wiper pivot assemblies of the type in which a cranked pivot arm has secured adjacent one end thereof a cylindrical bearing portion which is pivotally mounted in a central bore of a tubular housing are well known for use in motor vehicles, since these are the assemblies which are used to connect a motor vehicle windscreen wiper mechanism inside the vehicle to one or more windscreen wiper arms and blades supported externally of the vehicle adjacent a windscreen.
Such windscreen wiper pivot assemblies are normally located in somewhat inaccessible positions within a motor vehicle, and therefore it is important that such assemblies should have a long service life and should be relatively maintenance free. It is important, therefore, that the wear developing in such assemblies should be reduced to a minimum where possible.
In one known form of windscreen wiper pivot assembly, this has been achieved by pivotally mounting a cylindrical bearing portion of a cranked pivot arm in a lubricated central bore of a tubular housing, the cylindrical bearing portion being retained in position by means of a thrust washer and a spring washer adjacent the cranked portion of the cranked pivot arm, and, at the other end of the housing by means of an O-ring seal and a spring circlip. It has been found in some instances that an unacceptable degree of endfloat can occur in this type of assembly after a protracted service life, particularly where the tubular housing is made from a synthetic plastics material.
A windscreen wiper pivot assembly according to the present invention comprises a tubular housing having a central bore therein with, adjacent one end thereof, a substantially flat annular bearing surface situated radially of the longitudinal axis of said bore, and with, at the other end thereof, a stepped annular recess; and a cranked pivot arm having secured adjacent one end thereof a cylindrical bearing portion which is a rotatable fit within, and extends through, said central bore such that said one end of the cranked pivot arm is in slidable contact with said substantially flat annular bearing surface and a free end of said cylindrical bearing portion protrudes from the other end of said bore, said free end of said cylindrical bearing portion being provided with two grooves formed therein, the first of which is located within the bore of said housing adjacent said stepped recess and the second of which is located adjacent said other end of said bore, there being an annular seal member located in said first groove and an annular external spring ring located in said second groove, characterised in that a curved annular wave spring washer having at least two toothed portions extending radially from the outer periphery thereof is retained within said stepped recess with the inner periphery thereof in contact with said annular external spring ring and with said toothed portions engaging a wall portion of said stepped recess, said curved annular wave spring washer, when unstressed, fitting easily within said stepped annular recess.
In a windscreen wiper pivot assembly according to the present invention where the tubular housing is made from a synthetics plastics material, the stress generated in the curved annular wave spring washer by the external spring ring, when the external spring ring is forced into position in said second groove, is sufficient to cause said toothed portions to embed themselves in the wall portion of said stepped recess.
Preferably the curved annular wave spring washer used in the pivot assembly is one in which the toothed portions extend radially from the outer periphery of the spring washer and are spaced equidistant from one another around the outer periphery of the spring washer.
The invention and how it may be performed are hereinafter particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a side view, partially in crosssection, of a windscreen wiper pivot assembly according to the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a side view in cross-section of a tubular housing as used in the windscreen wiper pivot assembly shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a side view of a cranked pivot arm of the windscreen wiper pivot assembly shown in Figure 1;
Figure 4 shows a plan view of a curved annular wave spring washer as used in the windscreen wiper pivot assembly shown in Figure 1; and
Figure 5 shows a view of the curved annular wave spring washer shown in Figure 4, taken in the direction A-A' shown in Figure 4.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings shows a windscreen wiper pivot assembly 10 which comprises a tubular housing 12 made from a synthetic plastics material, and having a central bore 14 therein with, adjacent one end thereof, a substantially flat annular bearing surface 16 situated radially of the longitudinal axis of said bore 14. The tubular housing 12, shown in greater detail in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings, is extruded from a synthetic nylon material filled with an inert mineral component. The other end of the central bore 14 has formed therein a stepped annular recess 18, the purpose of which will be made clear hereinafter.The tubular housing 12 is completed by a shaped annular flange 20 situated a predetermined distance along the length of the tubular housing from said one end of the central bore 14, said annular flange 20 having formed therein through bores 22 which serve to house fixing members (not shown) which are used to mount the windscreen wiper pivot assembly in
position in a motor vehicle.
A cranked pivot arm 24 of the assembly shown in Figure 1 is shown in clearer detail in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings. As can be seen in
Figure 3 of the drawings, the cranked pivot arm 24 carries adjacent one end thereof a cylindrical bearing portion 26 and, adjacent the other end thereof, a pair of off-set shaped ball joints 28, 30, each of which is insertable in a corresponding
socket joint (not shown) of a linkage arm forming part of a transmission assembly of a motor vehicle windscreen wiper system. The cylindrical bearing
portion 26 is formed adjacent the free end 32
thereof with a coned splined portion 34 which is
engageable with a corresponding splined socket of
a windscreen wiper arm and blade (not shown).
Adjacent this splined portion 34 are two annular
grooves 36, 38, and there are two annular channels 40, 42 formed in the cylindrical bearing portion between the end of the cylindrical bearing portion 26 carrying the cranked pivot arm 24 and the annular groove 38.
Cylindrical bearing portion 26 is a rotatable fit within, and extends through, said central bore 14 of the tubular housing 12 so that said one end of the cranked pivot arm 24 is in slidable contact with the substantially flat annular bearing surface
1 6 and the free end 32 of the cylindrical bearing portion protrudes from the stepped annular recess
18 in the central bore 14. It is important to note in this respect that the cranked pivot arm 24 is in slidable contact with the flat annular bearing surface 1 6 of the tubular housing 12, that is, there is no thrust washer or spring washer interposed between the end of the tubular housing and the cranked pivot arm, as is the case with the known types of windscreen wiper pivot assembly.The two annular channels 40, 42 of the cylindrical bearing portion 26 are utilised as grease reservoirs to lubricate the pivoting movement of the cylindrical bearing portion 26 within the central bore 14 of the tubular housing 12. These grease reservoirs are filled with grease just prior to insertion of the cylindrical bearing portion 26 within the central bore 14. In the assembly shown in Figure 1, the annular groove 38 is located within the central bore 14 adjacent the stepped annular recess 18, and the annular groove 36 is located adjacent the open end of the stepped annular recess 18. An annular seal member 44, in the shape of an O-ring, is located in the annular groove 38 and forms a grease seal between the cylindrical bearing portion 26 and a wall portion of the central bore 14.An annular external spring ring 46, in the form of a circlip is located in the annular groove 36, and contacts the inner periphery of a curved annular wave spring washer 48 which is located within the stepped annular recess 1 8 of the central bore 14.
The curved annular wave spring washer 48 of the assembly is shown in detail in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, and comprises an annular ring 50 of spring steel having two toothed portions 52, 54 situated diametrically opposite one another, each of which extends radially outwardly from the outer periphery of the annular ring 50. As can be seen in
Figure 5, the spring washer 48 is curved so that the distance between the ends of the toothed portions 52 and 54, indicated on Figure 5 as "d" is slightly less than the corresponding diameter of the stepped annular recess 18 of the central bore 14 of tubular housing 12. This means that the annular spring washer 48, in its unstressed state, can fit easily within the stepped annular recess 18 of the central bore 14.
In order to assemble the windscreen wiper pivot assembly shown in Figure 1, the appropriate amounts of grease are placed in annular channels 40, 42 of the cylindrical bearing portion 26, the annular seal member 44 is placed in position in annular groove 38, and then the free end 32 of the cylindrical bearing portion 26 is inserted into said one end of the central bore 14 of the tubular housing 12 until said one end of the cranked pivot arm 24 comes into contact with the flat annular bearing surface 16 of the pivot housing 12. Once this position is reached, the free end 32 of the cylindrical bearing portion 26 protrudes from the stepped annular recess 1 3 of the central bore 14.
The curved annular spring washer 48 is then threaded onto the free end 32 of the cylindrical bearing portion 26 so that the toothed portions 52, 54 face towards the base of the stepped annular recess 18 and the convex surface of the annular spring washer 48 faces outwardly from the stepped annular recess 18. With the curved annular spring washer 48 in this position on the cylindrical bearing portion 26, the toothed portions 52, 54 contact a wall portion of the stepped annular recess 18 and the inner periphery of the curved annular spring washer 48 overhangs the annular groove 36 in the cylindrical bearing portion 26. The annular external spring ring 46 is now introduced into the annular groove 36 by stressing the curved annular spring washer 48 along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical bearing portion 26.The stress generated in the curved annular wave spring washer 48 by this insertion of the external spring ring 46 in the annular groove 36 is sufficient to cause the toothed portions 52, 54 of the annular spring washer 48 to embed themselves in the wall portion of the stepped annular recess 1 8, thus effectively locking the curved annular spring washer in position within the tubular housing 12.
In this arrangement a thrust bearing is generated between the curved annular spring washer 48 and the annular external spring ring 46, both of which are formed of metallurgically hard materials, and thus are extremely resistant to wear. This reduces the possibility of end float developing between the cranked pivot arm 24 and the tubular housing 12 to a minimum.
The windscreen wiper pivot assembly of the present invention constitutes an improved pivot assembly over the known type of pivot assembly in that it involves fewer moving parts, and utilises components having a high resistance to wear at the points of rubbing contact. There is also a substantial saving in both production and assembly costs in the large scale mass production of windscreen wiper pivot assemblies according to the present invention.
Claims (5)
1. A windscreen wiper pivot assembly comprising a tubular housing having a central bore therein with, adjacent one end thereof, a substantially flat annular bearing surface situated radially of the longitudinal axis of said bore, and with, at the other end thereof, a stepped annular recess; and a cranked pivot arm having secured adjacent one end thereof a cylindrical bearing portion which is a rotatable fit within, and extends through, said central bore such that said one end of the cranked pivot arm is in slidable contact with said substantially flat annular bearing surface and a free end of said cylindrical bearing portion protrudes from the other end of said bore, said free end of said cylindrical bearing portion being provided with two grooves formed therein, the first of which is located within the bore of said housing adjacent said stepped recess and the second of which is located adjacent said other end of said bore, there being an annular seal member located in said first groove and an annular external spring ring located in said second groove, characterised in that a curved annular wave spring washer having at least two toothed portions extending radially from the outer periphery thereof is retained within said stepped recess with the inner periphery thereof in contact with said annular external spring ring and with said toothed portions engaging a wall portion of said stepped recess, said curved annular wave spring washer, when unstressed, fitting easily within said stepped annular recess.
2. A windscreen wiper pivot assembly according to claim 1, in which the tubular housing is made from a synthetic plastics material, characterised in that, when the external spring ring is forced into position in said second groove, the stress generated in the curved annular wave spring washer by the external spring ring is sufficient to cause said toothed portions to embed themselves in the wall portion of said stepped recess.
3. A curved annular wave spring washer for use in a windscreen wiper pivot assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the toothed portions extending radially from the outer periphery of the spring washer are spaced equidistant from one another around the outer periphery of the spring washer.
4. A windscreen wiper pivot assembly substantially as hereinbefore particularly described and as shown in Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.
5. A curved annular wave spring washer substantially as hereinbefore particularly described and as shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (5)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08135134A GB2109674B (en) | 1981-11-21 | 1981-11-21 | Windscreen wiper pivot assembly |
| FR8219434A FR2516878B1 (en) | 1981-11-21 | 1982-11-19 | WIPER PIVOT |
| ES1982278727U ES278727Y (en) | 1981-11-21 | 1982-11-19 | A WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT DEVICE |
| DE19828232482U DE8232482U1 (en) | 1981-11-21 | 1982-11-19 | WIPER SWIVELING DEVICE |
| IT49530/82A IT1189421B (en) | 1981-11-21 | 1982-11-19 | WINDSHIELD WIPER HINGE DEVICE |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08135134A GB2109674B (en) | 1981-11-21 | 1981-11-21 | Windscreen wiper pivot assembly |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2109674A true GB2109674A (en) | 1983-06-08 |
| GB2109674B GB2109674B (en) | 1985-08-14 |
Family
ID=10526058
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08135134A Expired GB2109674B (en) | 1981-11-21 | 1981-11-21 | Windscreen wiper pivot assembly |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| DE (1) | DE8232482U1 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES278727Y (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2516878B1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2109674B (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1189421B (en) |
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0511832A1 (en) * | 1991-04-29 | 1992-11-04 | Trico-Folberth Limited | Housing for a rotatable shaft |
| US5203485A (en) * | 1988-10-11 | 1993-04-20 | Molins Plc | Pneumatic web feeding |
| AU646944B2 (en) * | 1991-04-29 | 1994-03-10 | Trico Pty. Ltd. | Housing for a rotatable shaft |
| WO1995001895A1 (en) * | 1993-07-06 | 1995-01-19 | Itt Automotive Electrical Systems, Inc. | Windshield wiper pivot mounting |
| FR2763907A1 (en) * | 1997-05-30 | 1998-12-04 | Valeo Systemes Dessuyage | Windscreen wiper system with bearing for automobiles |
| FR2808055A1 (en) * | 2000-04-21 | 2001-10-26 | Valeo Systemes Dessuyage | Bearing for drive shaft of an automotive vehicle windscreen wiper mechanism, has stop bushing which prevents undue wear of the bearing by means of a non-rotating washer |
| EP1961631A3 (en) * | 2007-01-30 | 2012-10-24 | Robert Bosch GmbH | Windscreen wiper device with an improved shaft-hub connection design |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3501338C2 (en) * | 1985-01-17 | 1987-01-02 | SWF Auto-Electric GmbH, 7120 Bietigheim-Bissingen | Wiper system |
| US5735171A (en) * | 1993-10-26 | 1998-04-07 | Itt Corporation | Pivot joint with retainer clip |
| US5449258A (en) * | 1993-10-26 | 1995-09-12 | Itt Corporation | Retainer clip and shaft fastener apparatus and method |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2983532A (en) * | 1959-09-29 | 1961-05-09 | Gen Motors Corp | Windshield wiper arm to shaft attachment |
| US3135982A (en) * | 1963-04-29 | 1964-06-09 | Gen Motors Corp | Windshield wiper transmission |
| GB1071565A (en) * | 1965-03-24 | 1967-06-07 | Fiat Spa | Pivot and support for the wiper arm of windshield wipers |
| ZA773983B (en) * | 1976-11-11 | 1978-05-30 | Magneti Marelli Spa | Plastic sleeve for windshield wipers |
| DE2911155C2 (en) * | 1979-03-22 | 1983-09-01 | SWF-Spezialfabrik für Autozubehör Gustav Rau GmbH, 7120 Bietigheim-Bissingen | Bearing arrangement for the wiper shaft of the wiper system of a motor vehicle |
-
1981
- 1981-11-21 GB GB08135134A patent/GB2109674B/en not_active Expired
-
1982
- 1982-11-19 IT IT49530/82A patent/IT1189421B/en active
- 1982-11-19 FR FR8219434A patent/FR2516878B1/en not_active Expired
- 1982-11-19 ES ES1982278727U patent/ES278727Y/en not_active Expired
- 1982-11-19 DE DE19828232482U patent/DE8232482U1/en not_active Expired
Cited By (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5203485A (en) * | 1988-10-11 | 1993-04-20 | Molins Plc | Pneumatic web feeding |
| EP0511832A1 (en) * | 1991-04-29 | 1992-11-04 | Trico-Folberth Limited | Housing for a rotatable shaft |
| AU646944B2 (en) * | 1991-04-29 | 1994-03-10 | Trico Pty. Ltd. | Housing for a rotatable shaft |
| WO1995001895A1 (en) * | 1993-07-06 | 1995-01-19 | Itt Automotive Electrical Systems, Inc. | Windshield wiper pivot mounting |
| FR2763907A1 (en) * | 1997-05-30 | 1998-12-04 | Valeo Systemes Dessuyage | Windscreen wiper system with bearing for automobiles |
| FR2808055A1 (en) * | 2000-04-21 | 2001-10-26 | Valeo Systemes Dessuyage | Bearing for drive shaft of an automotive vehicle windscreen wiper mechanism, has stop bushing which prevents undue wear of the bearing by means of a non-rotating washer |
| EP1155932A1 (en) * | 2000-04-21 | 2001-11-21 | Valeo Systemes D'essuyage | Bearing for guiding and axial positioning a rotating shaft |
| EP1961631A3 (en) * | 2007-01-30 | 2012-10-24 | Robert Bosch GmbH | Windscreen wiper device with an improved shaft-hub connection design |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| ES278727U (en) | 1984-10-16 |
| FR2516878A1 (en) | 1983-05-27 |
| FR2516878B1 (en) | 1985-07-19 |
| IT1189421B (en) | 1988-02-04 |
| IT8249530A0 (en) | 1982-11-19 |
| ES278727Y (en) | 1985-04-16 |
| DE8232482U1 (en) | 1983-07-14 |
| GB2109674B (en) | 1985-08-14 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 732 | Registration of transactions, instruments or events in the register (sect. 32/1977) | ||
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |