Wiper device

Abstract

Wiper device with a drive unit (10) which has an electric motor (38) and a drive shaft (18), and a bearing unit (12) which is provided for mounting the drive unit (10) in an operating state, characterized by an overload unit (14) which is provided to at least partially detach the drive unit (10) from the bearing unit (12) in the event of an overload.

Description

State of the art

[0001] A wiper device with a drive unit and a bearing unit, which is provided for supporting the drive unit in an operating state, has already been proposed. Further prior art is known from DE 103 61 744 A1 and DE 198 33 488 A1. Disclosure of the invention

[0002] The invention is based on a wiping device according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0003] It is proposed that the wiper device have an overload unit which is intended to at least partially detach the drive unit from the bearing unit in the event of an overload, whereby a mass to be accelerated in the event of an overload, as well as a risk of injury, can be reduced. In this context, a "drive unit" should be understood in particular to mean a unit which is intended to drive a wiper arm at least in a wiping mode. Advantageously, the drive unit has at least one electric motor, a gear unit and / or a drive shaft. Preferably, the drive unit is formed by a so-called direct drive unit, in which advantageously a wiper linkage for the coordinated control of at least two wiper blades is omitted. In this context, a "drive shaft" should be understood in particular to mean a shaft which is intended to be coupled to a wiper arm.Advantageously, the drive shaft is designed to be detachably coupled to the wiper arm. In this context, a "bearing unit" is understood to mean, in particular, a unit designed to support at least the drive unit.

[0004] The bearing unit is advantageously provided for mounting the drive unit on a vehicle part, in particular on a body. The bearing unit also advantageously has a circuit board. The circuit board can in particular be formed by a plastic and / or metal component, which advantageously forms a three-point support on the at least one vehicle part. In this context, an “operating state” should be understood to mean, in particular, a state in which the wiper device is ready for wiping operation and / or is in wiping operation. In this context, an “overload unit” should be understood to mean, in particular, a unit that is provided to change and / or interrupt at least one force path between at least two components in the event of an overload. The overload unit is preferably provided to change and / or interrupt the at least one force path exclusively in the event of an overload.In this context, an “overload case” should be understood in particular to mean an exceptional case in which particularly high forces act on the drive unit. In particular, particularly high axial forces act on the drive shaft in an overload case. The overload case can be triggered, for example, by a person hitting a wiper arm mounted on the drive shaft in an accident. In this context, “release” should be understood to mean that at least two components move from a fixed, unchangeable position into at least partially free movement relative to one another. The possibility of movement between the at least two components is increased by at least one degree of freedom. “Provided” should be understood in particular to mean specially programmed, designed and / or equipped.The fact that an object is intended for a specific function should be understood in particular to mean that the object fulfils and / or executes this specific function in at least one application and / or operating state.

[0005] In a further embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the overload unit is arranged at least partially on a drive housing of the drive unit in at least one operating state, whereby a release of the entire drive unit from the bearing unit and / or a release of the drive shaft from the drive unit or from the bearing unit can advantageously be achieved in the event of an overload. In this context, a "drive housing" should be understood in particular to mean a housing which at least largely surrounds the drive unit on the outside and is intended to support other components of the drive unit and / or to protect them from external influences. The drive housing is preferably formed by a gear housing.

[0006] Furthermore, it is proposed that the overload unit is arranged at least partially on a drive shaft of the drive unit in at least one operating state, whereby a release of the drive shaft from the bearing unit can be achieved in a particularly simple and reliable manner in the event of an overload.

[0007] It is further proposed that the overload unit is provided to at least partially detach the drive shaft of the drive unit from the drive unit in the event of an overload, whereby an advantageously particularly small mass can be set in motion in the event of an overload.

[0008] Particularly reliable triggering of the overload unit in the event of an overload can be achieved if the overload unit has at least one predetermined breaking point. The predetermined breaking point preferably has at least one tapered portion of a material and / or at least one continuous recess in a material, which is intended to at least partially destroy the material upon application of a defined force.

[0009] Furthermore, the overload unit advantageously has at least one floating bearing, which allows for particularly good support of the drive unit on the bearing unit during an operating state. In this context, a "floating bearing" is understood to mean, in particular, a preferably purely form-fitting support of at least two components relative to one another via at least one overload element. Advantageously, at least two overload elements, preferably more than three overload elements, are arranged on a circular path. Furthermore, the overload elements are advantageously arranged rotationally symmetrically.

[0010] A force at which the overload unit triggers can be predetermined particularly precisely if the overload unit transmits at least a large portion of the operating forces between a wiper arm and the bearing unit in at least one operating state. Preferably, the overload unit transmits all operating forces completely between a wiper arm and the bearing unit in at least one operating state. A "large portion" in this context is to be understood as meaning in particular more than 50%, preferably more than 80%, particularly preferably more than 95%. An "operating force" in this context is to be understood as meaning in particular a force that is required to hold a pivot axis of the wiper arm and / or the drive unit in a fixed position relative to the bearing unit.

[0011] A force at which the overload unit triggers can furthermore be predetermined particularly precisely if the overload unit transmits at least a large part of the operating forces between the drive unit and the bearing unit in at least one operating state.

[0012] It is further proposed that the wiper device comprise a vehicle bearing unit, which is intended to support the bearing unit on at least one vehicle part, thereby achieving a particularly stable attachment of the bearing unit to the at least one vehicle part. In this context, a "vehicle bearing unit" is to be understood in particular as a unit that is intended to captively attach at least one component to a vehicle part. The vehicle part is preferably formed by a body component. The vehicle bearing unit and the overload unit are advantageously intended to decouple different frequencies.

[0013] The wiper device according to the invention is not intended to be limited to the application and embodiment described above. In particular, the wiper device according to the invention may have a number of individual elements, components, and units that differs from the number stated herein in order to fulfill a function described herein. drawing

[0014] Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the drawings. The drawing illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The drawings, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. Those skilled in the art will also expediently consider the features individually and combine them into further meaningful combinations.

[0015] They show: Fig. 1 a wiper device according to the invention with a wiper arm in a perspective view, Fig. 2 a floating bearing arranged between a bearing unit and a drive housing in a plan view, Fig. 3 the floating bearing according to Fig. 2 in a section through III - III and Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment of a wiping device in a schematic view. Description of the embodiment

[0016] In the Fig. 1 shows a wiper device with a drive unit 10 and a bearing unit 12. The drive unit 10 drives a wiper arm 32 during wiping operation. For this purpose, the drive unit 10 has an electric motor 38, a gear unit 40, and a drive shaft 18. During wiping operation, the electric motor 38 drives the drive shaft 18 via the gear unit 40. In this case, the direction of rotation of the drive shaft 18 changes once per wiping cycle. In this context, it is also conceivable in principle for the drive shaft 18 to be directly coupled to the electric motor 38 and / or to be formed by an armature shaft of the electric motor 38. The drive unit 10 is formed by a direct drive unit. The wiper arm 32 is directly coupled to the drive shaft 18. However, it is also conceivable in this context for the wiper arm 32 to be coupled to the drive shaft 18 via a coupling linkage.The drive shaft 18 is detachably and captively coupled to the wiper arm 32.

[0017] The bearing unit 12 mounts the drive unit 10 on a vehicle part 36. The vehicle part 36 is formed by a body part of a motor vehicle. The bearing unit 12 has a plate 42 for this purpose. The plate 42 is formed by a sheet metal component. The plate 42 forms a three-point support on the vehicle part 36. For this purpose, the wiper device comprises a vehicle bearing unit 34, which mounts the bearing unit 12 on the vehicle part 36. The vehicle bearing unit 34 has three fastening elements 44, 46, 48, which captively connect the bearing unit 12 to the vehicle part 36. The vehicle bearing unit 34 holds the bearing unit 12 in a fixed position relative to the vehicle part 36, even in the event of an overload. The bearing unit 12 is designed such that it remains at least largely in its original shape in the event of an overload.

[0018] The bearing unit 12 supports the drive unit 10 in an operating state via an overload unit 14. The overload unit 14 detaches the drive unit 10 from the bearing unit 12 in the event of an overload. In other words, the overload unit 14 forms a force path between at least the drive unit 10 and the bearing unit 12 in an operating state. The overload unit 14 thus transmits a large part of the operating forces between the wiper arm 32 and the bearing unit 12 in an operating state. In this context, however, it is also conceivable that the overload unit 14 transmits all operating forces completely between the wiper arm 32 and the bearing unit 12 in an operating state.

[0019] In the event of an overload, the overload unit 14 completely interrupts the force path between the drive unit 10 and the bearing unit 12. In the event of an overload, the drive unit 10 is thus released from the bearing unit 12 and can be moved freely, at least substantially parallel to an axial direction 50. If an overload force component 52 acts on the wiper arm 32, which runs parallel to the axial direction 50 and exceeds a defined maximum load value, the drive unit 10 breaks away from the bearing unit 12. In this case, the drive unit 10 moves at least substantially in the same direction in which the overload force component 52 also acts.

[0020] The overload unit 14 is arranged on a drive housing 16 of the drive unit 10. The drive housing 16 surrounds the drive unit 10 on the outside. In the illustrated embodiment, the drive housing 16 is formed by a gear housing. In this context, however, it is also conceivable for the drive housing 16 to at least partially surround the electric motor 38.

[0021] The overload unit 14 has floating bearings 26, 28, 30. The floating bearings 26, 28, 30 connect the drive unit 10 to the bearing unit 12 in a form-fitting manner via rivet-shaped overload elements 64, 66, 68. Additionally or alternatively, it is conceivable for the floating bearings 26, 28, 30 to connect the drive unit 10 to the bearing unit 12 in a force-fitting manner. In this context, it is also conceivable for the drive unit 10 to be formed integrally with the bearing unit 12 and for the overload unit 14 to have recesses in the region of the drive housing 16 that create predetermined breaking points 20, 22, 24.

[0022] The overload unit 14 has three predetermined breaking points 20, 22, 24. As shown in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the predetermined breaking points 20, 22, 24 result from tapers 62 in the overload elements 64, 66, 68. In the event of an overload, heads 54, 56, 58 of the overload elements 64, 66, 68 break away and release the floating bearings 26, 28, 30. The overload elements 64, 66, 68 are arranged on a circular path 60. Furthermore, the overload elements 64, 66, 68 are advantageously arranged rotationally symmetrically. The overload elements 64, 66, 68 consist at least largely of a rubber material. In this context, it is also conceivable for the overload elements 64, 66, 68 to consist at least partially of a plastic and / or a metal. The vehicle bearing unit 34 and the overload unit 14 are provided to decouple different frequencies. A first frequency is decoupled by the overload elements 64, 66, 68. A second frequency, which differs from the first frequency, is decoupled by the fastening elements 44, 46, 48.

[0023] In addition, the overload unit 14 is arranged in an operating state partially on the drive shaft 18 of the drive unit 10 ( Fig. 4). The drive shaft 18 is secured relative to the drive housing 16 in the axial direction 50 by an overload element 70. The overload element 70 is formed by a metal ring, which breaks when a predefined axial force of the drive shaft 18 relative to the drive housing 16 is applied.

[0024] Thus, the drive shaft 18 is movable in the axial direction 50 after the overload unit 14 is triggered. In the event of an overload, the overload unit 14 detaches the drive shaft 18 of the drive unit 10 from the drive unit 10. However, it is also conceivable that in the event of an overload, the overload unit 14 only partially detaches the drive shaft 18 of the drive unit 10 from the drive unit 10. It is also conceivable that in the event of an overload, the drive shaft 18 is first detached from the drive housing 16 and, in a second step, the entire drive unit 10 is detaches from the bearing unit 12.

Claims

[1] Wiper device with a drive unit (10) which has an electric motor (38) and a drive shaft (18), and a bearing unit (12) which is provided for supporting the drive unit (10) in an operating state, characterized by an overload unit (14) which is provided to at least partially detach the drive unit (10) from the bearing unit (12) in the event of an overload. [2] Wiper device according to claim 1, characterized by that the overload unit (14) is arranged at least partially on a drive housing (16) of the drive unit (10) in at least one operating state. [3] Wiper device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the overload unit (14) is arranged at least partially on a drive shaft (18) of the drive unit (10) in at least one operating state. [4] Wiper device according to claim 3, characterized bythat the overload unit (14) is provided to at least partially detach the drive shaft (18) of the drive unit (10) from the drive unit (10) in the event of an overload. [5] Wiper device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the overload unit (14) has at least one predetermined breaking point (20, 22, 24). [6] Wiper device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the overload unit (14) has at least one floating bearing (26, 28, 30). [7] Wiper device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the overload unit (14) transmits at least a large part of the operating forces between a wiper arm (32) and the bearing unit (12) in at least one operating state. [8] Wiper device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the overload unit (14) transmits at least a large part of the operating forces between the drive unit (10) and the bearing unit (12) in at least one operating state. [9] Wiper device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a vehicle storage unit (34) which is intended to support the storage unit (12) on at least one vehicle part (36). [10] Motor vehicle with a wiper device according to one of the preceding claims. [11] Overload unit (14) of a wiper device according to one of claims 1 to 9.

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