Wiping device

Abstract

The invention relates to a wiping device (10) with at least one adapter (12, 20), in particular a wiper arm (20) or a wiper blade adapter (12), which is provided for making a connection between a wiper arm (18) and a wiper blade (34). At least one actuator (26, 28) is proposed for adjusting a coupling area (14, 22) of the adapter (12, 20).

Description

State of the art

[0001] Conventional automotive windshield wipers, according to the prior art, comprise a wiper blade attached to a wiper arm, which is moved by the wiper arm across the windshield to be cleaned. For this purpose, the automotive windshield wipers have a wiping device in which the wiper blade is attached to the wiper arm via a coupling between a wiper blade adapter and a wiper arm adapter. To achieve a stable coupling, the coupling areas of the wiper blade adapter and the wiper arm adapter must be matched. FR 2 626 828 A1 is known as prior art in this regard. Disclosure of the invention

[0002] The invention relates to a wiping device with at least one adapter, in particular a wiper arm or wiper blade adapter, which is provided for establishing a connection between a wiper arm and a wiper blade. A "wiping device" is understood to mean, in particular, a device that comprises at least a part of a wiper blade and / or a wiper arm of a windshield wiper, especially a motor vehicle windshield wiper. In this context, a "wiper blade adapter" is understood to mean, in particular, an adapter that has a contact area with a wiper blade component, in particular a spring rail, a wiper strip unit, or a wiper spoiler, and is captively connected to the wiper blade component and is designed to provide a coupling area of ​​the wiper blade component for coupling and / or contact with a wiper arm adapter.In this context, a "wiper arm adapter" is understood to mean, in particular, an adapter that has a contact area for a wiper arm component and is permanently connected to the wiper arm component, and is designed to provide a coupling area of ​​the wiper arm component for coupling and / or contact with a wiper blade adapter. A "wiper arm" is understood to mean, in particular, a component connected to the wiper blade, preferably via the wiper arm adapter and the wiper blade adapter, which is connected to a component other than a windshield to be cleaned, in particular a vehicle body, and is set in motion by means of a motor to move the wiper blade across the windshield to be cleaned.

[0003] At least one actuator is proposed for adjusting a coupling area of ​​the adapter. An "actuator" is understood to be, in particular, a component designed to convert electrical control pulses, generated by an external control device and / or by control elements of the wiper blade adapter, into a mechanical movement, for example, a translational movement. The mechanical movement can be generated by the movement of a component of the actuator or by the movement of another component of the wiper device coupled to the actuator. Preferably, the actuator effects the mechanical movement by means of an electric motor or by means of a magnetic force applied by a magnetic unit.The term "adaptation to the wiper arm" is to be understood in particular as meaning that the actuator is provided for a movement of at least one part element of the wiper blade adapter to change the coupling area of ​​the wiper blade adapter, so that a suitable coupling area of ​​the wiper blade adapter can be achieved for different coupling areas of different wiper arms by different movements.

[0004] The design of the wiping device according to the invention makes it possible in particular to achieve easy installation of the windshield wiper by a user as well as a flexibly deployable wiping device.

[0005] Furthermore, it is proposed that the actuator be designed to be controlled by a control device. A "control device" is understood to mean, in particular, an electronic unit that is preferably at least partially integrated into a vehicle's control and / or regulation unit and that is preferably designed to control at least the actuator. Preferably, the control device comprises a processing unit and, in particular, in addition to the processing unit, a storage unit containing a control and / or regulation program stored therein, which is designed to be executed by the processing unit.Alternatively, the actuator can be configured for activation and / or deactivation by a user via a control element, wherein the actuator preferably has an automatic shut-off function that deactivates the actuator as soon as contact is made between a moving part of the coupling area of ​​the wiper blade adapter and a wiper arm component. This can particularly automate the adjustment of the coupling area of ​​the adapter and facilitate user guidance.

[0006] Furthermore, at least one sensor element is proposed for detecting a characteristic parameter of the wiper blade adapter and / or the wiper arm adapter. A "sensor element" is understood to mean, in particular, an element designed to detect a characteristic parameter by means of detection, especially optical or magnetic detection. Preferably, the sensor element is configured to transmit the detected characteristic parameter to the control device and / or the actuator. This can, in particular, automate the adjustment of the adapter's coupling range and facilitate user guidance.

[0007] Furthermore, it is proposed that the actuator be designed as an electric actuator. An "electric actuator" is understood to mean, in particular, an actuator that incorporates an electric motor for converting a signal into movement. Specifically, the electric motor is directly connected to a moving component of the wiper blade adapter. Preferably, the electric motor is a piezoelectric motor. This approach allows for a structurally simple and cost-effective actuator.

[0008] Furthermore, it is proposed that the actuator be designed as an electromagnetic actuator. An "electromagnetic actuator" is understood to mean, in particular, an actuator with at least one electromagnet, designed to exert a force on a component of the wiper blade adapter to generate movement. This allows, in particular, for the contactless generation of movement of the wiper blade adapter component and a reduction in the number of moving and failure-prone components of the wiping device.

[0009] Furthermore, at least one power supply line is proposed, routed via a wiper arm, which is intended to supply power to the actuator. In particular, the power supply line is connected to the power supply of an electronic component of the vehicle. The power supply line can also be used to supply power to the sensor element. In particular, this eliminates the need for additional power supply elements, such as batteries, in the wiper arm or wiper blade. drawing

[0010] Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the drawing. The drawing illustrates an embodiment of the invention. The drawing, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. A person skilled in the art will expediently consider the features individually and combine them into meaningful further combinations.

[0011] They show: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a wiper blade and a wiper arm of a motor vehicle windscreen wiper with a wiping device according to the invention, Fig. 2 a schematic representation of a wiper arm adapter of the wiping device according to the invention with actuators for adjusting a coupling range and Fig. 3 a schematic representation of a wiper blade adapter of the wiping device according to the invention with actuators for adjusting a coupling area. Description of the exemplary embodiment

[0012] Fig. Figure 1 shows a wiper blade 34 and a wiper arm 18 of a motor vehicle windshield wiper, which have a wiping device 10 according to the invention. The wiper blade 34 comprises a wiper strip unit 32 made of rubber and a wiper spoiler 30. The wiper strip unit 32 has a wiping lip on a side facing away from the wiper spoiler 30. The wiper lip is designed to be moved across a windshield of the motor vehicle for cleaning purposes, whereby movement of the wiper blade 34 is effected by the wiper arm 18. The wiper spoiler 30 is designed to deflect incoming airflow and to press the wiper strip unit 32 against the windshield. Furthermore, the wiper spoiler 30 is designed to prevent washer fluid from being washed over the wiper blade 34.

[0013] The wiping device 10 comprises a wiper arm adapter 20 and a wiper blade adapter 12, which are provided for establishing a connection between the wiper arm 18 and the wiper blade 34, and actuators 26, 28, which are provided for adjusting coupling areas 14, 22 of the adapters 12, 20. The wiper arm adapter 20 ( Fig. 2) has two actuators 26, which are designed as electric actuators 26 and include a piezoelectric motor. The piezoelectric motor of the actuators 26 is designed to move movement elements 24 in the coupling area 22 of the wiper arm adapter 20 to adjust the coupling area 22 by means of a piezoelectric element. The actuators 26 may also include a gearbox for increasing the travel distance. The movement elements 24 are designed to be moved perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the coupling area 22 within a predetermined area. The predetermined area extends from the walls bounding the coupling area 22 to a point 1 cm from the wall. By moving the movement elements 24, the coupling area 22 can be adjusted to a corresponding coupling area 14 of the wiper blade adapter 12.

[0014] The wiper blade adapter 12 ( Fig.3) The wiping device 10 has moving elements 16 arranged in the coupling area 14, which are mounted on rails 40 and can be moved by means of actuators 28, which are designed as electromagnetic actuators 28. The moving elements 16 move in a direction transverse to a longitudinal direction of the coupling area 14 and the wiper blade 34. The actuators 28 have electromagnet units by means of which a magnetic force is exerted on the moving elements 16, which are designed to be magnetizable, to cause movement. Through the magnetic force, the actuators 28 move the moving elements 16 against a spring force of spring elements 42, so that after the actuators 28 are switched off, the moving elements 16 slide back along the rails 40 to an original position.The coupling area 14 can be adapted to a corresponding coupling area 22 of the wiper arm adapter 20 by moving the movement elements 16. The movement elements 16 are designed to interact with the movement elements 24 of the wiper arm adapter 20. This interaction is achieved by the actuators 28 pushing the movement elements 16 of the wiper blade adapter 12 inwards along the rails 40, and the actuators 26 of the wiper arm adapter 20 adjusting the movement elements 24 of the wiper arm adapter 20 to positions where, after the actuators 28 are switched off, they block a return movement of the movement elements 16 caused by the spring force of the spring elements 42, thereby aligning the coupling areas 14 and 22. In principle, the movement elements 16 can also interact with other elements of the wiper arm adapter 20 to adapt coupling areas 14, 22 to each other.Furthermore, a sensor element 36, formed by an optical detector, is arranged on the wiper blade adapter 12. This sensor element is designed to detect a characteristic parameter of the wiper arm adapter 20 defined by the diameter of the coupling area 22. Alternatively, the sensor element 36 can be arranged within the wiper arm adapter 20 and also be designed to detect a characteristic parameter of the wiper blade adapter 12. The sensor element 36 is used to acquire data for the automated control of the actuators 28.

[0015] Actuators 26 and 28 are controlled by a control device integrated into the control electronics of a motor vehicle. For this purpose, the control device receives measurement data from the sensor element 36 via the characteristic parameter of the wiper arm adapter 20. In an alternative embodiment, the control device can be integrated into the wiper blade adapter 12 or the wiper arm adapter 20. A power supply line 38, routed via the wiper arm 18, provides power to the actuators 26 and 28. In an alternative embodiment, the actuators 26 and 28 are powered by a power storage element, such as a battery, in the wiper assembly 10.

[0016] In alternative embodiments of the wiping device 10, only wiper arm adapters 20 or wiper blade adapters 12 have actuators 26, 28. In this case, movement elements 16, 24 in wiper blade adapters 12 or wiper arm adapters 20 are designed to adapt the coupling area 14 or the coupling area 22 to spatially fixed elements of a wiper arm adapter 20 or wiper blade adapter 12.

Claims

[1] Wiping device with at least one adapter (12, 20) which is provided for making a connection between a wiper arm and a wiper blade, characterized by at least one actuator (26, 28) which is provided for adjusting a coupling area (14, 22) of the adapter (12, 20). [2] Wiping device according to claim 1, characterized by , that the actuator (26, 28) is intended to be controlled by a control device. [3] Wiping device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by at least one sensor element (36) which is intended to detect a characteristic parameter of the adapter (12, 20). [4] Wiping device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the actuator (26, 28) is designed as an electrical actuator (26, 28). [5] Wiping device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the actuator (26, 28) is designed as an electromagnetic actuator (26, 28). [6] Wiping device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one power supply line (38) routed via a wiper arm (18), which is intended to supply power to the actuator (26, 28). [7] Wiper blade with a wiping device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5. [8] Wiper arm with a wiping device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 6.

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