WO2008089911A1

WO2008089911A1 - Joint connection for a joint rod of a windscreen wiper system and windscreen wiper system

Info

Publication number: WO2008089911A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/000336
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael SCHÄUBLE; Bruno Egner-Walter
Original assignee: Valeo Systemes D'essuyage
Priority date: 2007-01-27
Filing date: 2008-01-17
Publication date: 2008-07-31
Also published as: DE102007004179A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a joint connection between a joint rod (8) and at least one further functional element of a drive of a windscreen wiper system for vehicles, comprising a joint head and a joint shell (19) surrounding the joint head in a ring-like manner with at least one joint or bearing opening (26) forming a bearing surface (27) for the joint head. The bearing opening (26) is open on the side, in order to mount the spherical shell by means of sliding, radially or substantially radially to the axis of the bearing opening (26), with the bearing surface (27) being designed in a partial ring-shaped manner.

Description

Articulated connection for a joint rod of a windscreen wiper system as well

Wiper system

The invention relates to a hinge connection according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a windshield wiper system with such a hinge connection according to the preamble of claim 18.

Windscreen wiper systems for vehicle windows, in particular for vehicle windshields are known in different versions and usually consist of at least one in a vehicle-mounted wiper bearing with one end pivotally mounted wiper arm for a wiper blade and an electric motor drive with wiper motor for a reciprocating pivotal movement of the wiper arm around the axis of the wiper bearing. The drives used are, for example, crank drives for converting the rotational movement of the wiper motor in the pivoting movement of the respective wiper arm, namely consisting of crank arms and connecting rods, which are connected via articulated joints with elements of the crank mechanism, for example with crank arms.

The joints are usually designed as a ball joint, for example, such that a trained as a ball head condyle is capped overlapped by a example provided at one end of a link rod ball shell or is accommodated in a bearing opening formed by the ball shell so that the spherical shell surrounds the condyle only annular or with an annular joint formed within the bearing opening or Bearing surface against the joint head rests. The respective joint or bearing surface is formed corresponding to the spherical shape of the condyle as a concave part spherical surface, the condyle projecting from the bearing opening in the axial direction of this opening on both sides. This type of articulation is used in particular when the condyle is provided on a connecting piece, eg bolts, connect further functional elements on both sides of the joint, for example, two crank arms or a crank arm and another condyle, etc. The disadvantage is that such a hinge connection a cumbersome assembly requires, ie it is first necessary to mount on the provided on a functional element condyle end provided with the ball socket end of a joint rod and then in a further assembly step, the subsequent functional element of the crank drive, for example, another crank arm. In this case, the articulated rod mounted in the preceding assembly step can also be extremely cumbersome, in particular when it is positioned without orientation or largely disoriented in the further assembly step due to the articulated connection acting as a ball joint.

The object of the invention is to show a hinge connection, which can be easily mounted while maintaining its function as a ball joint even with an arrangement in the connection between two functional elements of a windshield wiper drive. To solve this problem, a hinge connection according to the patent claim 1 is formed. A windscreen wiper system with such a hinge connection is the subject of claim 18.

The articulated connection according to the invention is designed so that in the assembled state of the spherical head designed as a spherical head is received in the bearing opening of the example provided at one end of a joint rod spherical shell such that it projects in the axial direction of the axis of the bearing opening of the ball shell on both sides of this bearing opening, so that the Articulated head in the connection, ie, for example, can be provided on a bolt between two functional elements of a drive. The mounting of the ball socket provided on the respective articulated rod is then effected by lateral pressing in an axial direction radially or substantially radially to the axis of the bearing opening or radially or substantially radially to the axis of the bolt and by locking the spherical shell on the joint head.

The bearing opening of the spherical shell is for this purpose laterally open so that the bearing surface of the spherical shell surrounds the condyle partially ring-shaped, over an area greater than 180 °. For this purpose, the lateral opening in the spherical shell has at least at the transition into the bearing opening a width which is smaller, for example slightly smaller than the diameter of the joint head. The spherical shell or a shell forming this molding consist of an elastically deformable material, for example from a corresponding, suitable for spherical shells plastic.

Further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the crank drive a windshield wiper system according to the invention.

2 shows an enlarged view of a multiple crank of the crank drive on a

Output shaft of a wiper motor in plan view; Fig. 3, the multiple crank of Figure 2 in side view; Fig. 4 in an individual view of one of the joint rods of the windshield wiper system

FIG. 1;

5 shows a section along the line I - I of Figure 4; FIG. 6 shows an individual view of the end of the articulated rod of FIG. 4 connected to a joint head on the multiple crank; FIG. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 in a further embodiment of the

Joint rod; Fig. 8 is a section through the connecting rod of Figure 7 according to the

intersection

M - Il;

9 and 10 representations similar to Figure 4 in further embodiments of the joint rod.

The very schematically illustrated in Figure 1 and generally designated 1 windshield wiper system for a vehicle windscreen 2 includes u.a. two wiper arms 3 and 4, which are respectively held at one end to a wiper shaft, not shown, of a wiper bearing 5 and 6 and at their other end each carrying a wiper blade 7. For pivoting the wiper arms 3 and 4 about the axis of the wiper bearing 5 and 6 respectively provided on the respective wiper shaft crank arm 5.1 and 6.1 connected via a link bar 8 and 9 with a multiple crank 10 on the output shaft 11.1 of a wiper motor 11. The articulations between the one end of each articulation rod 8 and 9 and the multiple crank 10 and between the other ends of the articulated rods 8 and 9 and the respective wischlagerseitigen crank 5.1 and 6.1 are each formed by ball joints. Of these, at least the ball joints are performed on the wischlagerseitigen cranks 5.1 and 6.1, for example in the conventional manner, d. H. from a ball attached to the crank arm 5.1 or 6.1, which is overlapped cap-like by a provided on the respective hinge rod 8 and 9 spherical shell.

In order to achieve no phase-shifted pivotal movement of the wiper arms 3 and 4, the multiple crank assembly 10 has two crank arms 12 and 13, of which the crank arm 12 are directly on the output shaft 11.1 wegstehende radially thereof and the crank arm 13 attached to the free end of the crank arm 12 , in the direction of the axis of the output shaft 11.1 relative to the ball arm 12 offset using a spacer or Connecting pin 14. This secured with its ends against rotation in the cranks 12 and 13. At the other end of the crank arm 13 is provided on its side facing away from the crank arm 12 with a spherical condyle 15, which is overlapped by a cup-like example made of plastic and placed from above spherical shell 16, namely to form a ball joint 17, with the motor-side end of the articulated rod 9 with the multiple crank 10 is connected.

The bolt 14 is also provided with a condyle 18 between the two crank arms 12 and 13 or formed as a condyle 18 which is designed like a ball head and is encompassed by a spherical shell 19, to form a ball-headed joint 20 at the motor end of the Articulated rod 8 for the connection of this rod with the multi-crank 10. The arrangement is further made such that at rotating output shaft 11.1, the link rods 8 and 9 and connecting them with the multi-crank 10 ball joints 17 and 20 move in planes that from the Crank arm 12 supporting end of the output shaft 11.1 are sufficiently spaced.

FIG. 4 once again shows the articulated rod 8 in a detail view and in plan view. Between its two in the figure denoted by 8.1 and 8.2 ends of the connecting rod 8 is made as a U-profile made of a suitable material, such as metallic material, with two legs 21 and connecting these legs yoke portion 22. At the end of 8.1 is the U Profile shaped flat or pressed flat, so that the hinge rod 8 is formed there essentially two-ply. Furthermore, the U-profile in the region of the end 8.2 is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the articulated rod 8 by about 90 °. At the end 8.2 is in a local opening of the hinge rod 8, for example, made of plastic ball shell 23 is provided, which is similar to the spherical shell 16 formed part of the connecting rod 8 with the crank 5.1 connecting ball joint. The peculiarity of the windshield wiper system 1 and the drive of this system consists in the design of the ball joint 20, which is designed so that during assembly of the joint rod 8 with its spherical shell 19 laterally, ie in an axial direction radially or approximately radially to the axis of the bolt 14 can be placed or pressed onto the associated ball head 18 and fastened with locking on the ball head 18, whereby the assembly of the joint rod 8 and thus the assembly of the crank drive of the windscreen wiper system 1 are substantially simplified. In particular, the assembly of the articulated rod 8 can be done on the already assembled multi-crank.

For this purpose, the articulated rod 8 is provided at the end 8.1 by punching with a longitudinal side to 8.3 open recess 24, which is keyhole-shaped from an inner circular section and composed of a wedge-shaped to the longitudinal side 8.3 and on this longitudinal side open section. The smallest cross-sectional dimension of the recess 24 at the transition between the two aforementioned sections is approximately equal to or slightly larger than the ball diameter of the condyle 18. In the recess 24 is a spherical shell 19 forming molding 25 made of an elastically deformable material, such as plastic, which projects beyond the two surface sides of the flat-stamped joint rod end 8.1, as can be seen in particular from FIG. The spherical shell 19, which is sprayed onto the articulated rod 8, for example, just like the spherical shell 23, forms a recess 26, which is likewise open towards the longitudinal side 8.3 and corresponds in terms of its shape to the recess 24 or substantially to the recess 24, ie the recess 26 in turn is composed of an inner portion or a bearing opening 26.1 and a section 26.2 which widens to the longitudinal side 8.3 and which is open on this longitudinal side. In both sections cover the ball shell 19 and the molded body 25 not only the inner edge of the recess 24 completely, but also overlap the hinge rod end 8.1 on both surface sides in the edge region of the recess 24. The bearing opening 26.1 lying inside with a part-annular and concave, a joint socket for the spherical condyle 18 forming bearing or joint surface 27 is provided.

During assembly of the joint rod 8, this is pressed with the provided on the recess 24 ball shell 19 from the side on the condyle 18 under elastic deformation of the molding 25 such that the condyle 18 is finally received in the bearing opening 26.1 and the ball shell 19 with formed as a socket pan bearing surface 27 against the outer surface of the spherical condyle 18 adjacent this partially annular shape on an angular range greater than 180 ° surrounds.

With 28 in Figure 4 is a closure piece is referred to, which can be used with a section 28.1 fitting in the section 26.2 and this section occlusive, so that the section 28.1 with a likewise part-spherical concave curved joint or bearing surface 29, the joint surface 27 to a complements the condyle 18 completely encircling joint socket. The fastening of the end piece 28 to the spherical shell 25 takes place e.g. by latching. For this purpose, the closure piece 28 is provided on both sides of the portion 28.1 with two fork-like locking lugs 28.2, the spigot end 8.1 overlap on its two surface sides after placement of the closure piece 28 and each engage in a recess 25.1 of the ball shell 25.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show an embodiment in which the articulated rod 8a corresponding to the articulated rod 8 is also designed as a U-profile on its end 8a.1 articulated on the multiple crank 10, in such a way that at this end 8a.1 the two Legs 21 are arranged in planes perpendicular to the axis of the bearing opening of the ball socket 19a and in the illustrated embodiment, the center of the spherical condyle 18 in the mid-plane between the two legs 21 continues. Each leg 21 points at this Embodiment one to the longitudinal side 8a.3 open and, for example, with respect to the shape of the recess 24 corresponding or approximately corresponding recess. Between the two legs 21 and the yoke portion 22, the spherical shell 19a formed by a molded part 25a, for example, again made of plastic, is provided in the region of these recesses, the recess corresponding to the recess 26 and an opening to the longitudinal side 8a.3 with a hinge or bearing surface 27a forms, which after the pressing of the joint rod end 8a.1 on the condyle 18 this partial ring-like extent encompasses that an undesirable loosening of the articulated connection between the condyle 18 and the ball shell 19a is effectively prevented.

FIG. 9 shows, as a further embodiment, an articulated rod 8b, which differs from the articulated rod 8 essentially only in that the articulated rod 8b is formed between its articulated rod ends 8b.1 and 8b.2 as a tube profile and again at these ends by permanent or elastic Deformation is flat. The ball socket 23 and at the end 8b.1 the spherical shell 19b formed by a shaped part 25b is provided in the region of the recess 24 on the hinge rod end 8b.2. The molded part 25b is made with the recess 26b, which forms the hinge or bearing surface 27b and is open to the longitudinal side 8b.3.

FIG. 10 shows an articulated rod 8c, which differs from the articulated rod 8 essentially in that the recess 26c forming the joint or bearing surface 27c for the condyle 18, as well as that of the spherical shell 23, is open towards the longitudinal side 8c.3 Ball shell 30 are each formed by a molded part 25c and 31, respectively, which engages with a pin-like portion 25c.1 and 31.1 in the otherwise consisting of a tubular profile link rod 8c and held in this by permanent deformation of the pipe section 32. The invention has been described above by means of exemplary embodiments. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the inventive idea underlying the invention.

In particular, it is possible to manufacture the articulated or spherical shells 19, 19a, 19b, 19c not only of plastic, but possibly also of another suitable material, which, with elastic deformation, produces a lateral mounting or a lateral pressing on of the respective articulated elements. or spherical shell allowed on the associated condyle. Furthermore, the inventive design of a ball joint with at least during assembly initially laterally open and after assembly the condyle ring-like or partial ring encompassing joint or spherical shell for the realization of different articulations in articulated rods or articulated lever having drives for windscreen wipers are used, although the advantage of the invention Training particularly comes into play when a hinge connection between a link rod and a functional element of the drive is required, to which (functional element) connect further functional elements on both sides of this articulation, as in the case of the windshield wiper system 1 described above as an example in the ball joint 20 of the case is, which is followed on both sides as another functional element in each case a crank arm 12 and 13, respectively.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 windscreen wiper system

2 vehicle windscreen

3, 4 wiper arm

5, 6 wiper bearings

5.1, 6.1 Crank arm of the wiper bearing 5 or 6

7 wiper blade

8, 8a, 8b, 8c articulated rod

8.1, 8.2 Rod end

8a.1, 8a.2 Rod end

8b.1, 8b.2 Rod end

8c.1, 8c.2 link end

8.3, 8a.3, 8b.3. 8c.3 Longitudinal side of the articulated rod

9 articulated rod

10 multiple crank

11 wiper motor

11.1 Output shaft of the wiper motor 11

12, 13 crank arm

14 bolts

15 condyle

16 spherical shell

17 ball joint

18 condyle

19, 19a, 19b, 19c spherical shell 0 ball joint 1 leg 2 yoke section 3, 23b, 23c spherical shell 4 recess 25, 25a, 25b, 25c, the spherical shell forming molding

25c.1 peg-like section

26, 26 b, 26 c recess or joint socket

27, 27a, 27b, 27c hinge bearing surface

28 stopper

28.1 section

28.2 locking lugs

29 articular surface

30 ball cup

31 molding

30.1 peg-like section

32 pipe profile

Claims

claims

1. joint connection between a joint rod (8, 8a, 8b, 8c) and at least one further functional element (12, 13) of a drive of a windshield wiper system (1) for vehicles, with a joint head (18) and with a joint shell (19, 19a, 19b, 19c), which with a at least one bearing surface (27, 27a, 27b, 27c) for the condyle (18) forming hinge or bearing opening (26, 26a, 26b, 26c) annularly surrounds the condyle (18), characterized in that the bearing opening (26, 26a, 26b, 26c) for mounting the spherical shell (19, 19a, 19b, 19c) by pushing radially or substantially radially to the axis of the bearing opening (26, 26a, 26b, 26c) in partially annular formed bearing surface ( 27, 27a, 27b, 27c) is designed laterally open.

2. Articulation according to claim 1, characterized in that it at least one end (8.1, 8a.1, 8b.1, 8b.1) of the articulated rod (8, 8a, 8b, 8c) for the articulated connection with the further functional element (12, 13) is provided.

3. Articulated connection according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ball socket (19, 19 a, 19 b, 19 c) on the articulated rod (8, 8 a, 8 b, 8 c) is provided.

4. Articulated connection according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ball socket (19, 19a, 19b, 19c) is provided on the further functional element (12).

5. Articulated connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ball socket (19, 19a, 19b, 19c) a molding (25, 25a, 25b, 30) of an elastically deformable material, preferably of plastic.

6. Articulation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the condyle (18) on a at least two functional elements (12, 13) connecting element, such as bolts (14) between these functional elements (12, 13) is provided or formed.

7. Articulation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the articulated rod (8) to an edge of this rod (8), for example, to a rod longitudinal side (8.3, 8a.3, 8b.3) open towards recess (24) is provided, and that in the recess, the spherical shell (19, 19 a, 19 b) forming molding (25, 25 a, 25 b) arranged, for example, is injection-molded.

8. Articulated connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spherical shell (19, 19b) forming the molded part (25, 25b), the inner surfaces of the in the articulated rod (8, 8b) provided recess (24) and at least one surrounding the recess Edge region on at least one surface side of the articulated rod (8, 8b) covers.

9. Articulated connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the articulated rod (8, 8a, 8b) is flat or substantially flat in the region of the articulated connection.

10. Articulated connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the articulated rod (8, 8a) at least on a partial length as a U-profile with two legs (21) and connecting these legs Yoke section (22) and / or formed as a tubular profile.

11. Articulation according to claim 10, characterized in that the planes of the legs (22) and / or a median plane between the legs (21) at least at the articulated connection having part of the articulated rod (8, 8a) perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to the axis of Bearing opening (26) are arranged.

12. Joint connection according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the U-profile or tubular profile is pressed flat in the region of the articulated connection by permanent deformation, so that the articulated rod (8, 8b) there consists of two immediately adjacent layers.

13. Joint according to claim 12, characterized in that the recess (24) for at least partially receiving the ball socket (19) at an edge region (8.3) of the articulated rod (8) is open, at which the two by the flattening of the U-profile formed layers are not directly connected.

14. Articulated connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the articulated rod (8a) also at the articulated connection has the U-shaped cross section, and that the spherical shell (19a) forming the molding (25a) at least partially between the legs (21) of the U-profile is recorded.

15. Articulated connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spherical shell forming the molding part (25c) of the hinge rod (8c) protrudes and is connected via a preferably molded portion (25c.1) with the articulated rod (8c).

16. Articulated connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the functional elements are crank arms (12, 13).

17. Articulated connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one functional element is a further condyle.

18. Windscreen wiper system for vehicle windshields, in particular for vehicle windshields (2) with at least one wiper arm (3), with a wiper motor (11) and at least one articulated rod (8) provided at both ends with a joint in the drive train between the wiper motor (11) and wiper arm ( 3), characterized in that at least one articulated joint according to one of the preceding claims 1-17 is formed.

19. Windscreen wiper system according to claim 18, characterized in that the at least one articulated connection between a crank assembly (10) on a wiper motor (11) and a joint rod (8) is provided.

20. Windscreen wiper system according to claim 19, characterized in that the crank assembly (10) at least one with an output shaft (11.1) of the wiper motor (11) connected and radially from the output shaft (11.1) wegstehende crank arm (12), that the condyle (18 ) is provided on a connecting piece (14) connecting the crank arm (12) with a further functional element (13).

21. Windscreen wiper system according to claim 20, characterized in that the further functional element is a further crank arm (13).