Wiper blade heater, in particular for motor vehicle, having receptacle for wiper blade

Abstract

The invention relates to a wiper blade heater (1), in particular for a motor vehicle (2), in which a housing (10) is provided, which is arranged on a window pane (3) of the motor vehicle (2) in the assembled state. Furthermore, it is proposed that the housing (10) has an elongated receptacle (11), which in the assembled state is used to receive a wiper blade (8) arranged on the wiper arm (7) when the wiper arm (7) is in the parking position (12), and by means of which housing an air flow can be conducted onto the wiper blade (8) received by the receptacle (11).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a wiper blade heater, which is particularly used in motor vehicles. The invention particularly relates to the field of passenger cars (PKW) and trucks (LKW). Background Art

[0002] DE 10 2009 032 375 A1 discloses a flat wiper blade for a windshield wiper device, which has a wiper blade body comprising a wiper lip, a spring rail and a heating foil extending at least over a portion of the wiper blade, the heating foil having an electrical heating conductor.

[0003] The flat wiper blade known from DE 102009032375 A1 has the disadvantage that a large current is required to warm the heating foil when operating at the usual vehicle voltage. Due to the large current, a complex design is required in order to achieve reliable electrical contact and electrical insulation over the entire service life of the wiper blade. Since the wiper arm is usually not replaced during the service life of the vehicle, the electrical contact on the wiper arm is particularly complex. This is also due to the fact that the wiper arm and the wiper blade are often exposed to moisture as required. In addition, the heating performance of the known heating foil is limited. In addition, the heating foil is an additional component, which increases the manufacturing costs of the wiper blade, which needs to be replaced regularly.

[0004] An electrically heatable windshield is known from DE 29606071 U1. The known windshield comprises two separate glass panes which are connected to one another via a thermoplastic intermediate layer. In the lower third, i.e. in the region of the idle position of the windshield wipers, the windshield has an electrically heatable field. In the heatable field, a heating resistor is arranged in the thermoplastic intermediate layer. Summary of the invention

[0005] The wiper blade heater according to the invention having the features of the independent claim has the advantage that a better design and mode of operation can be achieved, thereby achieving a better thermal effect on the wiper blade and / or a wider range of applications.

[0006] Advantageous developments and improvements of the features specified in the independent claim result from the measures listed in the dependent claims.

[0007] The wiper blade, the wiper arm and the window glass of the motor vehicle are not components of the wiper blade heater according to the invention. In particular, the wiper blade heater can also be produced and sold independently of the wiper blade, the wiper arm (wiper arm) and the window glass of the motor vehicle. The window glass of the motor vehicle is preferably a windshield.

[0008] Advantageously, the housing is configured to be insertable into a recess configured on the window pane. Here, a flat transition with a large radius from the housing to the window pane is preferably preset so that the wiper can easily slide into the receiving portion.

[0009] The receiving portion of the housing can be configured at least substantially with a predetermined shape along its extension direction. The receiving portion is advantageously configured as a wiper blade receiving portion. Here, the receiving portion can at least partially receive the wiper blade. Preferably, the receiving portion can at least substantially receive the wiper blade. In addition, the receiving portion can be configured so that it also at least partially receives other elements, in particular a wiper arm of a wiper.

[0010] Advantageously, the housing has a slope on the receiving portion, and when the wiper arm moves from the parking position to the window glass during operation, the wiper blade can be guided from the receiving portion to the window glass via the slope. Accordingly, the wiper blade can be guided into the receiving portion via the slope.

[0011] Advantageously, the slope of the receptacle is designed with a slight curvature along the longitudinal extension of the receptacle, so that the wiper blade can be guided into or out of the receptacle at least substantially along its longitudinal extension in a manner resting against the receptacle, thereby further improving functionality.

[0012] Advantageously, a filter is provided which is arranged in the housing and which is arranged under the receiving portion of the housing in the assembled state. The filter can be configured so that it protects the housing interior located below it from possible contamination or dirt ingress.

[0013] Advantageously, the receiving portion of the housing is configured such that both wiper blades configured as bow wipers and wiper blades configured as flat beam wipers can be received by the receiving portion. As a result, the wiper blade can be used regardless of its shape or type. It can be used in different vehicles. In particular, it can be used in all possible wipers of a motor vehicle.

[0014] Advantageously, the housing has a funnel which widens from the air inlet of the housing to the receiving portion of the housing. This enables an advantageous guidance of the air flow, in particular the warm air flow, onto the wiper blade.

[0015] Advantageously, the air inlet can be connected to a ventilation system, in particular an interior ventilation system of a motor vehicle. As a result, an existing ventilation system can be used to generate the air flow.

[0016] Advantageously, at least one heating element is provided which is arranged in the housing and serves to heat the air flow. This allows the air flow to be warmed without any delay in heating the air flow after the vehicle is started. It is also possible to use an unheated air flow. If necessary, the warm air flow generated by the ventilation system can also be additionally heated.

[0017] Advantageously, the heating element has at least one PTC element. By being designed as a positive temperature coefficient semiconductor element, a high current can be provided for heating even at low temperatures, in particular at winter temperatures.

[0018] Depending on the configuration, one or more of the following features and advantages may be achieved.

[0019] The invention can be used in various windshield wipers, wherein the windshield wiper comprises a wiper arm and a wiper blade. In this case, not only the wiper blade, in particular a wiper strip and / or a spoiler and / or another rubber or plastic element of the wiper blade, but also possibly at least one other component of the windshield wiper, in particular a tensioning spring and / or a wiper arm and / or a connection of the wiper blade to the wiper arm and / or an adapter of the windshield wiper, can be heated or de-iced. This can avoid possible problems with the torque for operating the windshield wiper, in particular at cold temperatures.

[0020] Better de-icing of the wiper blade can be achieved, especially in winter conditions. An electrical connection on the wiper arm and / or a heating element in the wiper blade is not required for de-icing.

[0021] The functionality of the windshield wiper, in particular the wiping performance or cleaning performance, can be improved.

[0022] The cutout that may be required on the window pane is preferably located in the parking position of the wiper. The housing is inserted into the cutout. The housing can be formed at least partially from plastic. After the wiping process for cleaning the window pane, the wiper blade is guided into the receiving part of the housing in the parking position. The housing is open at the receiving part. In addition, the housing is hollow so that a warm air flow can be guided onto the wiper blade.

[0023] If the motor vehicle is started, the heating process can be started automatically and / or on demand by means of the wiper blade heater. If necessary, a switch for operating the wiper blade heater can be provided in the interior of the motor vehicle, for example on the dashboard of the motor vehicle. In this case, the ventilation system of the motor vehicle can be activated, which generates an air flow through the housing to the receiving part, wherein heating can be achieved by the PTC element. The warm air flow is guided at least to the wiper blade through a funnel of the housing, so that a de-icing process can be carried out.

[0024] The housing is open at the air inlet, which is preferably arranged at the bottom. The air flow is preferably heated at the air inlet by means of a PTC element. The filter can prevent dirt from entering and prevent the interior of the housing and, in particular, the PTC element located at the bottom from becoming dirty.

[0025] The wiper blades are heated only in the parked position, but no longer during a wiping process or wiping processes for cleaning the window. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which corresponding elements are provided with consistent reference numerals.

[0027] Figure 1 A wiper blade heater on a motor vehicle is shown in a spatially selected schematic diagram, wherein a wiper blade of a windshield wiper arranged on a wiper arm is arranged on the wiper blade heater in a parked position;

[0028] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 The wiper blade heater shown in , wherein the wiper is not shown; and

[0029] Figure 3 The schematic diagram along the section line marked III shows Figure 2 Cross-section of a wiper blade heater shown in . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Figure 1 In the spatially detailed schematic diagram, a wiper blade heater 1 is shown on a motor vehicle 2 . The motor vehicle can be designed in particular as a passenger car or a passenger car. The wiper blade heater 1 is particularly suitable for such a motor vehicle 2 .

[0031] The motor vehicle 2 has a window pane 3 and an instrument panel 4, which is arranged behind the window pane 3 in the interior 5 of the motor vehicle 2. The motor vehicle 2 also has a windshield wiper 6 with a wiper arm 7 and a wiper blade 8. The wiper blade 8 is arranged on the window pane 3, wherein the wiper blade does not necessarily always rest directly on the window pane.

[0032] The structure of the wiper blade heater 1 is also referred to below. Figure 2 and 3 Continue with description.

[0033] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 The wiper blade heater 1 shown in FIG. 1 , wherein the wiper 6 is not shown in order to better illustrate the elements of the wiper blade heater. In addition, Figure 3 The schematic diagram along the section line marked III shows Figure 2 The wiper blade heater 1 is shown in cross section in FIG.

[0034] The wiper blade heater 1 has a housing 10. The housing 10 is arranged on a window pane 3 of a motor vehicle 2. The housing 10 is inserted into a recess 15 formed on the window pane 3. The housing 10 has an elongated receptacle 11, which is designed as a wiper receptacle 11. The receptacle 11 serves to receive a wiper blade 8 arranged on a wiper arm 7. When the wiper arm 7 is in its parking position 12, the wiper blade 8 is arranged in the receptacle 11. The wiper blade 8 is located on the window pane 3 but preferably not in direct contact with the window pane 3.

[0035] The receiving portion 11 of the housing 10 is configured such that both a wiper blade 8 configured as a bow-shaped wiper and a wiper blade 8 configured as a flat beam-shaped wiper can be received by the receiving portion 11. This provides a wide range of applications.

[0036] The housing 10 has a ramp 16 on the receiving portion 11, via which the wiper blade 8 is guided from the receiving portion 11 to the window pane 3 when the wiper arm 7 is moved from the parking position 12 to the window pane 3 in operation along the direction 13. Correspondingly, when the wiper arm 7 is actuated counter to the direction 13 to the parking position 12, the wiper blade 8 is guided from the window pane 3 to the receiving portion 11 via the ramp 16 on the receiving portion 11.

[0037] The slope 16 of the receiving portion 11 has a slight curvature along the longitudinal extension 17 of the receiving portion 11 , so that when the wiper arm 7 is operated, the wiper blade 8 can be guided into or out of the receiving portion 11 along its longitudinal extension 17 while resting against the receiving portion 11 .

[0038] Furthermore, the wiper blade heater 1 has a filter 18 arranged in the housing 10. The filter 18 is arranged below the receiving portion 11 of the housing 10. Furthermore, the housing 10 has a funnel 20. An air inlet 21 is provided below the funnel 20 on the housing 10. The funnel 20 is configured such that it widens from the air inlet 21 of the housing 10 toward the receiving portion 11 of the housing 10.

[0039] The air inlet 21 is connected to a ventilation system 25 which is designed as an interior ventilation system 25 of the motor vehicle 2. During operation, an air flow 24 is generated by the ventilation system into the housing 10. During operation, the air flow 24 is guided via the housing 10, in particular the funnel 20, onto the wiper blade 8 received by the receptacle 11.

[0040] Furthermore, a heating element 26 is provided which is arranged in the housing 10 and serves to heat the air flow 24. The heating element 26 comprises a PTC element 27. The heating element 26 and the ventilation system 25 can be operated via a switch 28 in this exemplary embodiment.

[0041] The invention is not restricted to the described embodiments.

Claims

1. A wiper blade heater (1), in particular for a motor vehicle (2), It is characterized in that A housing (10) is provided, which is arranged on a window pane (3) of the motor vehicle (2) in an assembled state, and which has an elongated receiving portion (11) which is used to receive a wiper blade (8) arranged on the wiper arm (7) when the wiper arm (7) is in a parking position (12) in an assembled state, and An air flow (24) can be guided via the housing to the wiper blade (8) received by the receiving portion (11).

2. The wiper blade heater according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The housing (10) is designed to be insertable into a recess (15) formed on the window pane (3).

3. The wiper blade heater according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that The housing (10) has a ramp (16) on the receiving portion (11), and when the wiper arm (7) moves from the parking position (12) to the window pane (3) during operation, the wiper blade (8) can be guided from the receiving portion (11) to the window pane (3) via the ramp.

4. The wiper blade heater according to claim 3, It is characterized in that The slope (16) of the receiving portion (11) is configured with a slight curvature along the longitudinal extension direction (17) of the receiving portion (11), so that the wiper blade (8) is guided into the receiving portion (11) or out of the receiving portion (11) at least substantially along its longitudinal extension direction (17) in a manner that it rests on the receiving portion (11).

5. The wiper blade heater according to any one of claims 1 to 4, It is characterized in that A filter (18) is provided which is arranged in the housing (10) and which is arranged below a receiving portion (11) of the housing (10) in an assembled state.

6. The wiper blade heater according to any one of claims 1 to 5, It is characterized in that The receiving portion (11) of the housing (10) is constructed so that both a wiper blade (8) constructed as a bow-shaped wiper and a wiper blade (8) constructed as a flat beam-shaped wiper can be received by the receiving portion (11).

7. The wiper blade heater according to any one of claims 1 to 6, It is characterized in that The housing (10) has a funnel (20) which widens from an air inlet (21) of the housing (10) to a receiving portion (11) of the housing (10).

8. The wiper blade heater according to claim 7, It is characterized in that The air inlet (21) can be connected to a ventilation system (25), in particular an interior ventilation system (25), of the motor vehicle (2).

9. The wiper blade heater according to any one of claims 1 to 8, It is characterized in that At least one heating element (26) is provided, which is arranged in the housing (10) and serves to heat the air flow (24).

10. The wiper blade heater according to any one of claims 1 to 9, It is characterized in that The heating element (26) has at least one PTC element (27).

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