Ice scraper with a housing and a scraping edge / lip

Abstract

The invention relates to an ice scraper for vehicle windows and windshields, which is equipped with a vibrating element to facilitate the removal of ice layers. The vibrating element causes the scraping edge / lip to vibrate, thereby loosening the ice layers. In this way, the ice layers are more easily removed from the vehicle windshield with virtually no effort on the part of the user. The vibrations can be adjusted by the user or preset at the factory. The vibrating element functions electromagnetically, either through a ferromagnetic part / band built into the lip and an electromagnet that causes it to vibrate through magnetic field interactions, or through piezo elements whose vibrations extend into the ultrasonic range.

Description

The invention relates to an ice scraper for windows and windshields of vehicles, which is equipped with a vibration element for easier removal of the ice layers.The conventional ice scrapers are more or less simple constructions with which ice surfaces can be scraped off from the windshield without damaging the surface of the windshield. Most of these, even the very simple ones, which consist solely of a plastic sheet, actually do their task quite well.It has long been known to use ice scratches to remove ice that has formed on vehicle windshields in winter, for example. Depending on the thickness of the ice layer formed, the removal of an ice layer by means of purely mechanical ice scrapers can be physically burdensome, complicated and difficult. There are therefore also more complex variants thereof which are equipped with all possible features. Ice scrapers, which function electrically and have a rotating disc with scraper troughs, are already on the market longitudinally. Such ice scratches promising a troublefree, rapid removal of ice from the pane, which also succeeds quite well therewith.Further publications describe ice scrapers equipped with a heating element. This makes the ice easier to remove.Ice scrapers are known, for example, from DE 10052281 C2, DE 202006000830 U1 or US 3711679 A, in which the ice is to be heated and melted with the aid of electrically operated heating elements, which may be provided, for example, in the scraping edge.Furthermore, DE 2927887 A1, DE 4300500 A1 (Eisfön), GB 2 295 006 A and GB 2 328 734 A, US 2006 / 0282980 A1 also describe apparatuses in which the ice is melted by means of warm air.These are generally comparatively bulky appliances in the manner of a hot-air gun. In an apparatus described in US 2006 / 0282980 A1, a rotating blade is intended to detach ice, etc., from the disk, and a fan serves to remove the detached ice by means of cold air.The application DE 10 2017 117 106 A1 describes a portable electrically heatable ice scraper. The invention provides a portable electrically heatable ice scraper having an elongate housing which has a front housing section with a housing front end and a scraper edge arranged there and a handle with a rear housing section, wherein an electrically operated fan for generating an air flow in the direction of the scraper edge and at least one electrically operated heating element for heating the air flow are arranged in the housing, and wherein the front housing section and the rear housing section extend substantially in a plane in the housing longitudinal direction or the front housing section is angled with respect to the rear housing section in the housing longitudinal direction at an angle of not more than 35°.EP 0 168 797 A2 describes a device for de-icing windshields in particular, having at least one scraper edge running transversely to a handle piece and a heat source assigned to the latter. This is intended to allow effective defrosting, according to Applicants, without using a power source, but nevertheless a power source is forcibly used to ignite the gas. The thermal energy is produced by gas burning. For this purpose, the scraping edge is connected to a housing, in the interior of which at least one gas-conducting line with a subsequent glow element is provided and an ignition device is assigned to the latter at a distance. The glow element should have a glow layer running between an inner cage and an outer cage for receiving gas. The glow element can also end at a distance from the electrically designed ignition device, the ignition device optionally being a filament.DE 20 2004 014 954 U1 describes an ice scraper with a flat scraping surface. Here, all interrupted edges will simultaneously come into contact with the pane to be cleaned, whereby a continuous surface for removing the snow and ice surface is ensured.DE 20 2006 000 830 U1 describes an ice scraper which is electrically heated. Here, a heat wire is introduced at its scratch edge. This heat wire is electrically heated by a battery, battery or connected to the automobile battery, via a switch.The invention specified in patent claims 1 to 21 is based on the problem of creating a compact ice scraper for car windows which, as far as possible without great force exertion, leaves the ice layers away from an icy or covered vehicle window.This problem is solved by the features set out in claims 1 to 21.The invention achieves a reliable, low cost ice scraper design that provides quick, simple and reliable ice strata removal from the vehicle windows.Advantages of this ice scraper are:- troublefree ice scraping,- rapidly applicable,- relatively simple constructionExemplary embodiments are further explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 14. The following are shown: FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the device, FIG. 2 shows the ice scraper with the spring element, which establishes the connection of the scraper edge / lip to the housing, FIG. 3 shows the funnel shape with a circular scraping edge / lip, FIG. 4 shows a straight shape of the ice scraper, FIG. 5 shows a cube shape with a scraping edge / lip in square / angular form, FIG. 6 shows the electromagnetic oscillation elements or eccentric masses and the electric motor drive, FIG. 7 shows the circular movements on the vehicle window, FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in which the electromagnet variant is used, FIG. 9 shows a mechanism driven by an electromagnet, FIG. 10 shows a further exemplary embodiment with a high vibration frequency, FIG. 11 shows a variant which additionally has an ultrasonic source, FIG. 12 shows an exemplary embodiment with a built-in heating function and a luminaire, FIG. 13 shows an ice scraper with UV light sources (UV LEDs or UV laser diodes) FIG. 14 shows a further exemplary embodiment.The ice scraper 1 here, as many of the prior art also consist of a housing 2 which also serves as a handle or is provided with a handle 3 and a lip (scraper edge) 4 with which the ice is scraped. The scraping edge / lip can be made of hard plastic, rubber or even metal (e.g. brass).However, in the present invention, a battery 5 and an electric vibration element 6 are also integrated in the ice scraper. The scraper edge / lip is not rigidly connected to the housing, but is constructed elastically or partially decoupled at the fastening point 7 and is connected to the housing in a slightly movable manner via a connecting element 8. The connecting element allows the lip to pivot or move slightly. The vibrating element can be integrated directly into the scraping edge / lip, or be installed somewhat outside in direct mechanical contact or through the connecting element, e.g. a ledge 9 with a groove 10 for the scraping edge. The scraping edge / lip is thereby set into vibration. The movement possibilities of the scraping edge are greatly limited, so that it has only a few millimeters of clearance. By forcibly advancing the ice scraper, the ice scraper behaves almost like a rigid structure. The oscillation amplitude and the oscillation frequency can be regulated arbitrarily by an electronic controller / regulator 11 or can be established from the factory. For example, step control would also be conceivable. The oscillations can be executed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 12 of the scraper edge / lip in the direction of movement 13 of the ice scraper by the user during ice scraping. However, they can also be executed in other directions, such as along the longitudinal axis or also in the form of circular oscillations (circular movements) 14, wherein each point of the scraping edge / lip completes small circular movements. As soon as the user presses the lip of the ice scraper onto the ice layer 15 of the icy car pane 16, he can activate the device by means of a switch 17, whereby the lip is set in oscillatory movements (about 200 Hz). These swinging movements constantly strike the ice layer edge 18 and thus there are produced in a lightning-like manner micro-cracks 19 by which the ice becomes brittle, the lip pot 4 continuing to penetrate. Because the vibration direction is disposed almost parallel to the disk surface 20, the vibration energy is not necessarily applied to the automobile disk but is mainly applied to the ice layer.The vibrating element (vibrating element) 6, if it should be integrated into the scraping edge / lip, can be a piezoelectric element / piezoelectric actuator 21 (or several of these), which transmits its vibrations directly to the scraping edge / lip.Another embodiment would be incorporated by a magnet or metal (iron) member 22 into the scraping edge / lip, which would be vibrated by alternating magnetic fields by an electromagnet 23 installed outside the scraping edge / lip in close proximity. In this case, the scraping edge / lip does not have to be decoupled from the housing 2, but rather only connected to the housing 2 via an elastic part 24. A spring element 25 can also create the connection of the scraping edge / lip to the housing (FIG. 2 ). The oscillations can be executed in the direction of movement during ice scraping and use of the ice scraper by the user. The oscillation amplitude and the frequency can be adjusted by a controller 11.The ice scraper and scraper edge / lip may be manufactured in any shape. All possible shapes are possible, for example a funnel shape 26 with a circular scraper edge / lip (FIG. 3 ), a straight shape 27, as in conventional ice scrapers (FIG. 4 ), a cube shape 28 with a scraper edge / lip in a square / angular shape (FIG. 5 ), etc.When installing the vibration element outside the scraping edge / lip in the immediate vicinity of, or contacting, the scraping edge / lip, electromagnetic oscillation elements or eccentric masses can also generate oscillations by electric motor drive, which are transmitted on the scraping edge / lip (FIG. 6 ).The direction of oscillation can be like the direction of movement of the ice scraper by the user during ice scraping, or else in the transverse direction thereto. Similarly, circular motions, where each point in the lip completes circular motions on the vehicle window, may be generated by an eccentrically rotating element mechanically connected to the lip (FIG. 7 ). The oscillation amplitude and the oscillation frequency can be regulated arbitrarily by an electronic control. A vibration amplitude of 0.5-5 mm with a frequency of 10-200 Hz is sufficient to remove the ice more easily. The lip edge will "tap" onto the ice layer edge at approximately 10-200 pulses per second and easily release the latter from the pane.FIG. 8 shows a further exemplary embodiment. Here, the electromagnet variant is used to vibrate an iron strip (iron sheet, iron strip) 22 that is inserted into the scraping edge / lip. The electromagnet 23 which effects this is integrated in the immediate vicinity in the housing of the ice scraper. The electromagnet is supplied with alternating current or impulse current by an electronic control or electrical circuit (e.g. electronic multivibrator / bistable trigger circuit) 29, so that it generates alternating magnetic fields. As a result, the scraping edge / lip is alternately attracted and then not again. In addition, when a permanent magnet 30 is installed in the scraping edge / lip, repulsive forces are generated when the electromagnet generates the same magnetic pole as the magnet is disposed in the scraping edge / lip. In our embodiment, the oscillating element operates with an oscillation amplitude of only 0.5-7 mm and a frequency of 10-200 Hz. This is sufficient to loosen the ice layer on the disk and "knock out" it. The scraper edge / lip thereby strikes the ice layer edge obliquely or tangentially to the windshield at up to 200 times per second and loosens it. A mechanism driven by an electromagnet, which oscillates the scraping edge / lip by leverage, can also be used in this case (FIG. 9 ). Here, the vibrational forces would be somewhat higher, at lower amplitudes and therefore also suitable for stubborn ice layers. A shaft 31 coupled to an electric motor 32 oscillates the lip edge. An eccentric hinge 33 causes the lip to reciprocate. The lip can be decoupled here and connected to the housing of the ice scraper by a connecting element, or can be elastically connected to the housing by an elastic part.By a slight movement of the ice scraper, the ice is removed almost without the use of force. This variant is the simplest and also the most favorable in production. Multiple electromagnets, which are small in size, can be installed along the scraper edge / lip in a ledge which is firmly coupled to the housing of the ice scraper. The inclination of the scraping edge / lip does not necessarily have to point outwards. It can also be installed inclined inwardly or downwardly in the direction of the handle 3. In that case, the user must simply drag (and not push as usual) the ice scraper over the windshield. The oscillations of the scraping edge / lip loosen the ice and remove it from the disk. Ice scraping is easily made with the apparatus. The user takes the device in his hand, presses it slightly against the vehicle window and switches on the vibration function. Due to the vibration movement of the scraping edge / lip, which oscillates at approximately 10-200 Hz. The vibration frequency does not necessarily need to be limited to 200 Hz. It can also be much higher, up to the ultrasonic range and far above 20 KHz (FIG. 10 ). However, it must be borne in mind that between 100 Hz and 18 KHz the ice scraper can become loud in the process. From 20 KHz on, it is then no longer audible, but the oscillation amplitude also decreases significantly downward. At more than 700 KHz, the ice can be removed even more quickly by additional ultrasonic action. An ultrasonic source 34 may also be additionally installed, which is directed onto the ice layer 15 or, more precisely, onto the gap 40 between ice and vehicle window (FIG. 11 ). Here, ultrasonic waves 41 are generated, which additionally help to release the ice layers even more easily. The ultrasonic waves generate microbubbles 42 in the thin film of water 43 formed between the ice layer and the disk, thereby loosening the ice rapidly in seconds.The variant from FIG. 12 additionally has, as in many ice scrapers from the prior art as well, a heating function and a light. Here, the scraping edge / lip is equipped with a heating element 35 (e.g. heating wire), as a result of which its contact edge becomes hot and in the process the ice can be removed more easily. It is not the question of melting the entire ice layer, but rather merely melting a minute amount thereof at the contact edge 4 in order to obtain "access" or contact of the scraping edge / lip on the windshield. An LED lamp 36 or a laser diode 37 is designed as a light, which is intended to illuminate the area to be cleaned. In addition to or instead of conventional lamps, UV light sources, such as UV LEDs or UV laser diodes 38, can also be used (FIG. 13 ).The ice scraper shown in FIG. 14 has a controller 11 which has a sensor system (sensor system) by means of which it can determine an increase in the force resistance during ice scraping and correspondingly automatically increases the oscillation frequency and / or the oscillation amplitude. It is known that electric actuators (including electric motors, electromagnets or piezoelectric actuators among others) have different current and current consumption values at no-load than when they act under load. If an evaluation unit 39, which detects these current values and evaluates them, is coupled to the controller, then the resistance force during ice scraping, which comes through the scraping edge, can always be determined and, if the force exertion is increased, an automatic frequency and amplitude increase of the actuator can be controlled, so that the removal from the ice, nevertheless easily takes place. It is a simple electronic control that actually causes much. The adaptation of the amplitude and the frequency of the vibration element takes place fully automatically in this case, without the user having to control anything in this case separately.The electrical components of the ice scraper (at least one energy source, if present) are to be removably or well protected from moisture.LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS:1 Ice scraper 2 Housing 3 Handle 4 Lip, scraper edge, lip rim, contact edge 5 Battery 6 Vibration element 7 Fastening point 8 Connecting element 9 Strip 10 Groove 11 Electronic control / regulator 12 Longitudinal axis of the scraper edge / lip 13 Direction of movement of the ice scraper by the user 14 Circular oscillations / circular movements 15 Ice layer 16 Auto disk 17 Switch 18 Ice layer edge 19 Micro-cracks 20 Disk surface 21 Piezoelectric element / piezoelectric actuator 22 Magnetic part, metal part, iron part, iron band, iron sheet, iron strip 23 Electromagnet 24 Elastic part 25 Spring element 26 Funnel shape 27 Straight shape 28 Cube shape 29 Electrical circuit, multivibrator, Bistable trigger circuit 30 permanent magnets 31 shaft 32 electric motor 33 eccentric joint 34 ultrasonic source 35 heating element 36 LED lamp 37 laser diode 38 UV LED / UV laser diode 39 evaluation unit 40 gap between ice and vehicle window 41 ultrasonic waves 42 microbubbles 43 thin water film 44 eccentric mass 45 eccentrically mounted shaft / pin 46 rotating element 47 lever / pinReferences included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 10052281 C2

[0005] DE 202006000830 U1 [0005, 0011]US 3711679 A

[0005] DE 2927887 A1

[0006] DE 4300500 A1

[0006] GB 2 295 006 A

[0006] GB 2 328 734 A

[0006] US 2006 / 0282980 A1 [0006, 0007]DE 10 2017 117 106 A1

[0008] EP 0 168 797 A2

[0009] DE 20 2004 014 954 U1

[0010]

Claims

Ice scraper with a housing and a scraper edge / lip, characterized in that - the scraper edge / lip is constructed elastically at the fastening point to the housing or is movably coupled to the housing of the ice scraper with the aid of a connecting element, - a rechargeable energy source and a power connection are installed in the housing, - a vibration element is installed which is coupled to the scraper edge / lip and vibrates or oscillates the latter, - a controller is installed which controls the vibration element.Ice scraper with a housing and a scraper edge / lip according to claim 1, characterised in that the oscillation amplitudes and or the oscillation frequency is adjustable by a built-in regulator.Ice scraper with a housing and a scraper edge / lip according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the direction of oscillation takes place in the direction of movement of the ice scraper by the user when removing the ice layers on the vehicle window or transversely to this direction of movement.Ice scraper with a housing and a scraper edge / lip according to one of the preceding patent claims, characterized in that the direction of oscillation is carried out perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the scraper edge / lip, in the direction of movement of the ice scraper by the user during ice scraping.Ice scraper with a housing and a scraper edge / lip according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the direction of oscillation is carried out along a longitudinal axis of the scraper edge / lip.Ice scraper comprising a housing and a scraping edge / lip according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the vibrating element performs circular oscillations, each point of the lip / scraping edge completing a small circular movement.Ice scraper with a housing and a scraper edge / lip according to one of the preceding patent claims, characterised in that it is of cubic or hemispherical or conical construction.Ice scraper with a housing and a scraper edge / lip according to one of the preceding patent claims, characterized in that the oscillation frequency of the vibration element is between 10 Hz and 750 KHz.Ice scraper with a housing and a scraper edge / lip according to claim 8, characterised in that the oscillation frequency of the vibration element is in the high ultrasonic range and additionally ultrasonic waves are produced for ice removal.Ice scraper with a housing and a scraper edge / lip according to one of the preceding patent claims, characterized in that the vibration element is designed to function electromagnetically or piezoelectrically.Ice scraper with a housing and a scraper edge / lip according to one of the preceding patent claims, characterized in that the vibration element consists of piezoelectric actuators with high amplitudes or piezoelectric actuators with a translator device for increasing the actuator path length or achieving a greater amplitude.Ice scraper with a housing and a scraper edge / lip according to one of the preceding patent claims, characterized in that the scraper edge / lip consists of plastic, rubber or metal.Ice scraper with a housing and a scraper edge / lip according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a heating element is installed in the scraper edge / lip or is installed outside the scraper edge / lip in the immediate vicinity, is thermally connected to the scraper edge / lip in a thermally transferring manner.Ice scraper comprising a housing and a scraping edge / lip according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is equipped with a light intended to illuminate the area to be cleaned.Ice scraper with a housing and a scraper edge / lip according to claim 14, characterised in that the light is an LED lamp or a laser diode.Ice scraper with a housing and a scraper edge / lip according to claim 14 or 15, characterised in that the light is a UV LED or UV laser diode.Ice scraper with a housing and a scraper edge / lip according to one of the preceding patent claims, characterized in that it is equipped with a controller which has a sensor system by means of which it can determine an increase in the mechanical resistance force during ice scraping and correspondingly automatically increases or adjusts the oscillation frequency and / or the oscillation amplitude.Ice scraper comprising a casing and a scraper edge / lip according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is equipped with an ultrasonic source which emits its ultrasonic waves onto the ice.Ice scraper with a housing and a scraper edge / lip according to claim 18, characterised in that the ultrasonic waves of the ultrasonic source are aligned exactly on the region where the scraper edge / lip contacts the vehicle window.Ice scraper comprising a housing and a scraping edge / lip according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that in a hand-holding handle coupled to the housing, the vibrating element or an electromagnet and the energy source are installed, whereby the scraping edge / lip is set into vibration.Ice scraper comprising a housing and a scraper edge / lip according to claim 20, characterised in that the scraper edge or lip is removable and coupled in the form of an attachment to the hand-held handle.

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