Arrangement for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing liquid, in particular for wiper device of motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a structure (50) for conveying a cleaning and / or deicing liquid, the structure (50) being configured to be fluidly connected to a wiper blade (40) incorporating a washing function using a cleaning and / or deicing liquid, the structure comprising: a flexible tube (51); an end piece (52) comprising a first portion (52a) attached to the flexible tube (51) and a mountable second portion (52b) comprising rotational locking means (53) for rotationally locking the mountable second portion to a fluid connector (54) of the wiper blade (40), the end piece (52) comprising a passage (P) through which the first portion (52a) is attached to the flexible tube (51); the passage is configured to convey the cleaning liquid conveyed by the flexible tube (51) into the wiper blade (40).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to the field of windshield wiper systems for vehicles, and more particularly to a structure for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing fluid for windshield wiper systems.

[0002] A windshield wiper assembly (such as a windshield wiper assembly for cleaning or de-icing the windshield of a motor vehicle) typically includes a wiper arm and a wiper blade connected to the wiper arm, the wiper arm being connected to a source of cleaning and / or de-icing liquid and to a motor.

[0003] During wiping, there is relative movement between the wiper arm and the wiper blade, such that the connection between the wiper arm and the wiper blade must allow the wiper blade to rotate relative to the wiper arm.

[0004] In addition, the wiper blades must be able to be easily connected to and disconnected from the arm to allow for wiper blade replacement or maintenance.

[0005] Therefore, a connecting device is usually provided between the wiper arm and the wiper blade to ensure this connection and the relative movement between the aforementioned wiper arm and wiper blade.

[0006] When cleaning and / or de-icing fluid is sprayed from a nozzle (e.g., located on the vehicle's hood), the connection between the wiper arm and the wiper blade has no function other than those mentioned above.

[0007] On the other hand, it can be provided that cleaning and / or de-icing fluids are sprayed directly from the wiper blades onto the windshield, with the aim of improving the precision and effectiveness of washing or de-icing.

[0008] In this situation, cleaning and / or de-icing fluid needs to be delivered to the wiper blades. Typically, wiper blades include one or two rods for delivering the fluid. It is possible to provide one or more cleaning and / or de-icing fluid inlet pipes directly connected to these rods. However, due to the relative movement between the wiper arm and the wiper blade, hydraulic connections are therefore unreliable. Furthermore, it is difficult to conceal and protect the inlet pipes in this configuration. Finally, for users wanting to replace worn wiper blades, connecting and disconnecting the connections is not a straightforward operation.

[0009] To address the issues mentioned above, the connecting device between the wiper arm and the wiper blade is also used as a hydraulic connector, as described, for example, in document WO 2006 / 056406 or document FR2933930.

[0010] Improvements are needed to the connection device used as a hydraulic connector in the windshield wiper assembly.

[0011] This invention achieves this by means of a structure for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing fluid, the structure being configured to be fluidly connected to a wiper blade incorporating a washer and / or de-icing function using the cleaning and / or de-icing fluid, the structure comprising: • Flexible tube; • An end piece comprising a first portion fastened to a flexible tube and an mountable second portion, the mountable second portion including a rotation locking device for rotationally locking onto a fluid connector on a wiper blade, the end piece including a passage configured to deliver cleaning fluid conveyed by the flexible tube to the wiper blade.

[0012] The advantage of the present invention is that the structure for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing fluid includes an end piece that, on the one hand, makes it easier for the user to grip and manipulate the flexible tube with their fingers during wiper blade maintenance, and on the other hand, makes locking and unlocking the end piece on the fluid connector simpler by means of a simple rotation locking and unlocking device.

[0013] According to one aspect of the invention, the structure for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing fluid is configured to be fluidly connected to a connection device on a windshield wiper blade. Conveying and distributing the cleaning and / or de-icing fluid via the wiper blade enables greater precision and efficiency in washing and / or de-icing.

[0014] According to one aspect of the invention, a passage extends through a first portion of the end piece and an installable second portion. An advantage of this feature is that cleaning and / or de-icing fluid can be delivered from the flexible tube to the wiper blade.

[0015] According to one aspect of the invention, the flexible tube is made of an elastically deformable material. The advantage of this feature is that the flexible tube is flexible and can be bent as needed to form a path according to the available space within the wiper assembly.

[0016] According to one option, the flexible tube is made of polymer material.

[0017] According to one option, the flexible tube is made of polyethylene.

[0018] According to one option, the flexible tube is made of polyethylene terephthalate.

[0019] According to one option, the flexible tube is made of natural rubber.

[0020] According to one option, the flexible tube is made of synthetic rubber.

[0021] According to one option, the flexible tube is based on silicone resin.

[0022] According to one aspect of the invention, the tube includes an end threaded onto a first portion, which is convex. An advantage of this feature is that the connection between the connecting device and the flexible tube is simpler. Specifically, the convex first portion is inserted into the flexible tube, thereby reinforcing the end of the flexible tube. Therefore, the user can easily manipulate the flexible tube at its end during wiper blade maintenance.

[0023] According to one aspect of the invention, the first part includes a sleeve, and the end of the flexible tube can be threadedly connected to the sleeve.

[0024] According to one aspect of the invention, the sleeve includes an end having an integral shape of a truncated cone.

[0025] According to one aspect of the invention, the mountable second portion is concave, allowing the fluid connector to be inserted into the interior of the mountable second portion. This feature is advantageous because it facilitates the installation and removal of the flexible tube from the fluid connector.

[0026] According to one aspect of the invention, the end piece is made of a rigid material. This feature is advantageous because it allows the user to manipulate the tube more easily, as the end piece provides a rigid grip.

[0027] According to one aspect of the invention, the end member is made of metal.

[0028] According to one aspect of the invention, the end piece is made of stainless steel.

[0029] According to one aspect of the invention, the end piece is made of zinc die-cast alloy, or brass, or any other material compatible with corrosive media.

[0030] According to one aspect of the invention, the end member is made of a rigid plastic, such as polybutylene terephthalate or polycarbonate.

[0031] According to one aspect of the invention, the installable second portion includes a cylindrical wall comprising a rotary locking device. The advantage of this feature is that locking and unlocking of the end piece on the fluid connector is simplified by means of a simple rotary locking and unlocking device.

[0032] According to one aspect of the invention, the rotary locking device is formed by at least one slot made in the thickness of the cylindrical wall.

[0033] According to one option, at least one slot of the locking device has an elliptical shape.

[0034] According to one option, at least one slot of the locking device has a rectangular shape.

[0035] According to one option, at least one slot of the locking device may have any shape that is deemed suitable by a person skilled in the art.

[0036] According to one option, the rotary locking device is formed by two slots made in the thickness of the cylindrical wall.

[0037] Depending on one option, the two slots of the locking device have an elliptical shape.

[0038] Depending on one option, the two slots of the locking device have a rectangular shape.

[0039] According to one option, the two slots of the locking device can have any shape that a person skilled in the art would consider suitable.

[0040] According to one aspect of the invention, the fluid connector for a windshield wiper blade has a cylindrical shape and includes at least one lug configured to be received in a slot when a structure for delivering cleaning and / or de-icing fluid is fastened to the fluid connector. An advantage of this feature is that the fluid connector and the rotary locking device including the slot have a simple structure and allow the fluid connector to be securely, easily, and cost-effectively locked in the end piece. Another advantage of this feature is that the rotary locking device and the lug of the fluid connector are compact.

[0041] According to one option, the fluid connector of the wiper blade connection device has a cylindrical shape and includes two lugs.

[0042] According to one option, the two lugs are opposite to each other in diameter.

[0043] According to one aspect of the invention, the end piece includes at least one groove that allows at least one lug of the fluid connector to pass through, and the end piece and the fluid connector are configured to rotate relative to each other so that once at least one lug has passed through at least one groove, the structure for delivering cleaning and / or de-icing fluid is locked onto the fluid connector.

[0044] It should be understood that the fluid connector of the wiper blade is configured to lock in the slot by inserting the fluid connector into the interior of the installable second part along the longitudinal axis along which the wiper blade extends, and then rotating the fluid connector about the longitudinal axis so that at least one lug weds into the edge of the slot.

[0045] It should be understood that the fluid connector is fastened to the end piece via a bayonet mount.

[0046] According to one option, a seal is provided between the installable second part and the fluid connector.

[0047] According to one option, the seal is disposed in a groove located on one end of the fluid connector and / or inside the installable second part.

[0048] According to one option, the seal is disposed along the longitudinal axis between the sleeve and at least one lug.

[0049] The present invention also relates to a connecting device configured to allow a wiper arm to be mounted on a wiper blade. The connecting device includes a fluid connector comprising at least one lug, configured to establish a fluid connection between the wiper blade and the structure described above for delivering cleaning and / or de-icing fluid. This feature has the advantages mentioned above.

[0050] The present invention also relates to an assembly comprising a fluid connector and a structure as described above for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing fluids, the fluid connector including at least one lug configured to insert into the structure for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing fluids. This feature has the advantages mentioned above.

[0051] The present invention also relates to a wiper blade including the connecting device described above. This feature has the advantages mentioned above.

[0052] The present invention also relates to a method for assembling a structure as described above for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing fluids onto a fluid connector including at least one lug, the method comprising the following steps: • Allow at least one lug of the fluid connector to enter an end piece including at least one groove; • Rotate the end piece and the fluid connector relative to each other to lock the structure used to deliver cleaning and / or de-icing fluid onto the fluid connector.

[0053] This feature has the advantages mentioned above.

[0054] The present invention also relates to a windshield wiper assembly comprising: • Wiper arm • Wiper blades • The connection device described above is configured to mount the wiper arm onto the wiper blade. • The structure for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing fluid as described above is configured to be fluidly connected to a fluid connector of a connecting device.

[0055] This feature has the advantages mentioned above.

[0056] The invention will be better understood with reference to the following figures. -[ Figure 1The wiper blade includes a connecting device on which a structure for delivering cleaning and / or de-icing fluid is mounted; -[ Figure 2 ]: Figure 1 The windshield wiper blade includes a connecting device on which an end piece for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing fluid is mounted; -[ Figure 3 Components include fluid connectors and Figure 1 The structure for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing fluids includes two lugs; -[ Figure 4 ]: Figure 1 A structure used for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing liquids.

[0057] Figure 1 A wiper blade 40 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown, the wiper blade including a connecting device 70 on which a structure 50 for delivering cleaning and / or de-icing fluid is mounted.

[0058] Structure 50, used for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing fluids, is fluidly connected to wiper blade 40.

[0059] In this configuration, the wiper blade 40 incorporates a washing and / or de-icing function using cleaning and / or de-icing fluids. For this purpose, the wiper blade includes orifices 61 for spraying cleaning and / or de-icing fluids along the wiper rubber 62. The orifices 61 are supplied with the fluid via internal channels 63 formed within the wiper rubber 62.

[0060] Structure 50 for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing fluids includes a flexible tube 51 made of a polymer material and rigid end members 52. In this case, the flexible tube may be made of a polymer material and configured to supply cleaning and / or de-icing fluids.

[0061] Here, the rigid end piece can be made of metal or rigid plastic. Preferably, the end piece is made of rigid plastic.

[0062] The end piece 52 includes a first portion 52a, which is fastened to the flexible tube 51. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the first part 52a is in the form of a sleeve with an end 57 having a truncated conical shape, and the end 51e of the flexible tube 51 is threaded to the truncated conical end.

[0063] The end piece 52 also includes a concave, mountable second part 52b.

[0064] Here, the second part 52b has a cylindrical shape.

[0065] The installable second part 52b further includes a rotary locking device 53 formed by two slots 56 made in the thickness of the cylindrical wall. In this case, each slot 56 has a rectangular shape. The two slots 56 are opposite to each other in diameter.

[0066] The second part 52b is configured such that a cylindrical fluid connector 54 of the connecting device 70, extending along the longitudinal axis L, can be inserted into the installable second part 52b. Here, the connector 54 is integrally formed with the connecting device 70. It should be understood that the connector 54 and the connecting device 70 are integral.

[0067] like Figure 3 As shown, the fluid connector 54 of the connecting device 70 for the wiper blade 40 has a cylindrical shape and includes two lugs 58a and 58b, which are configured to be received in a slot 56 when the structure for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing fluid is fastened to the fluid connector. In this case, the two lugs 58a and 58b are opposite to each other in diameter.

[0068] like Figure 4 As shown, the end piece 52 includes two grooves 55a, 55b that are opposite in diameter, which allow the two lugs 58a, 58b of the fluid connector 54 to pass through.

[0069] In this configuration, end piece 52 and fluid connector 54 are arranged to rotate relative to each other so that once lugs 58a, 58b have passed through at least one recess 55a, 55b, the structure 50 for delivering cleaning and / or de-icing fluid is locked onto fluid connector 54; see also Figure 2 .

[0070] It should be understood that the fluid connector 54 of the wiper blade 40 is configured to lock in the slot 56 by inserting the fluid connector 54 into the interior of the mountable second part 52b along the longitudinal axis L along which the wiper blade 40 extends, and then rotating the fluid connector 54 about the longitudinal axis L so that the two lugs wed into each of the two edges 56a, 56b of each slot 56.

[0071] It should be understood that the fluid connector 54 is fastened to the end piece 52 via a bayonet mount. After this installation is completed, the sleeve 52a and the fluid connector 54 are aligned along the longitudinal axis L, and cleaning and / or de-icing fluid can be delivered from the flexible tube 51 to the internal channel 63 via the sleeve 52a and the fluid connector 54.

Claims

1. A structure (50) for conveying a cleaning and / or de-icing fluid, said structure being configured to be fluidly connected to a wiper blade (40) having a washing and / or de-icing function using said cleaning and / or de-icing fluid, said structure for conveying the cleaning and / or de-icing fluid comprising: • Flexible tube (51); • End piece (52), the end piece including a first portion (52a) and an installable second portion (52b), the first portion being fastened to the flexible tube (51), the installable second portion including a rotation locking device (53) for rotationally locking on a fluid connector (54) of the wiper blade (40), the end piece (52) including a passage (P) configured to deliver the cleaning and / or de-icing fluid delivered by the flexible tube (51) to the wiper blade (40).

2. The structure (50) for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing fluid as described in the preceding claim, wherein the structure (50) for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing fluid is configured to be fluidly connected to the connection device (70) of the wiper blade (40).

3. The structure (50) for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing fluid as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein, The flexible tube (51) includes an end (51e) threaded onto the first portion (52a), the first portion being convex.

4. The structure (50) for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing fluid as described in the preceding claim, wherein, The first part (52a) includes a sleeve, and the end (51e) of the flexible tube (51) can be threaded onto the sleeve.

5. The structure (50) for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing fluids as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein, The installable second part (52b) is concave, allowing the fluid connector (54) to be inserted into the installable second part (52b).

6. The structure (50) for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing fluid as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein, The end piece (52) is made of a rigid material.

7. The structure (50) for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing fluid as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein, The installable second part (52b) includes a cylindrical wall (55) which includes the rotary locking device (53).

8. The structure (50) for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing fluids as described in the preceding claim, wherein, The rotary locking device (53) is formed by a slot (56) made in the thickness of the cylindrical wall (55).

9. A connecting device (70) configured to mount a wiper arm (not shown) onto a wiper blade (40), the connecting device (70) comprising a fluid connector (54) including at least one lug (58a, 58b), the fluid connector (54) being configured to establish a fluid connection between the wiper blade (40) and a structure (50) for delivering cleaning and / or de-icing fluid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The connecting device (70) as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein, The fluid connector (54) of the connecting device (70) of the wiper blade (40) has a cylindrical shape and includes at least one lug (58a, 58b) which is configured to be received in the slot (56) when the structure (50) for delivering cleaning and / or de-icing fluid is fastened to the fluid connector (54).

11. An assembly comprising a fluid connector (54) and a structure (50) for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing fluid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, the fluid connector comprising at least one lug (58a, 58b), the fluid connector (54) being configured to be inserted into the structure (50) for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing fluid.

12. The component as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein, The end piece (52) includes at least one groove (55a, 55b) through which at least one lug (58a, 58b) of the fluid connector (54) passes. The end piece (52) and the fluid connector (54) are configured to rotate relative to each other to lock the delivery structure (50) onto the fluid connector (54) once the at least one lug (58a, 58b) has passed through the at least one groove (55a, 55b).

13. A windshield wiper blade (40) comprising the connecting device (70) as described in claim 9 or 10.

14. A method for assembling a structure (50) for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing fluid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 onto a fluid connector (54) including at least one lug (58a, 58b), the method comprising the steps of: • To allow at least one lug (58a, 58b) of the fluid connector (54) to enter the end piece (52) including at least one groove (55a, 55b). • Rotate the end piece (52) and the fluid connector (54) relative to each other to lock the delivery structure (50) onto the fluid connector (54).

15. A windshield wiper assembly, the windshield wiper assembly comprising: • Wiper arms; • Wiper blades (40); • The connecting device (70) as claimed in claim 9 or 10 is configured to mount the wiper arm (not shown) onto the wiper blade (40); • The structure (50) for conveying cleaning and / or de-icing liquid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 is configured to be fluidly connected to the fluid connector (54) of the connection device (70).

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