Windshield wiper blade, especially for a motor vehicle

Abstract

TITLE: Windscreen wiper blade, particularly for a motor vehicle. Windscreen wiper blade comprising a wiping blade (12) and a fluid distribution system (34), and a gas distribution system (32). Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Windshield wiper blade, particularly for a motor vehicle. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a windshield wiper blade, particularly for a motor vehicle, comprising a wiping blade and a fluid distribution system. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] A windshield wiper of the type defined above, comprising a wiping blade and a fluid distribution system, is already known. These known devices consist of a channel with orifices arranged practically parallel to the wiping blade and through which the cleaning fluid can be applied to the windshield to be wiped.

[0003] DESCRIPTION AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to a windshield wiper blade, particularly for a motor vehicle, comprising a wiping blade and a fluid distribution system, this windshield wiper blade being characterized in that it comprises a gas distribution system.

[0005] The windshield wiper blade according to the invention as defined above, allows for a better field of vision and thus optimal visibility for the driver and, where applicable, the passenger.

[0006] Particularly advantageously, the gas distribution installation is designed to distribute a flow or stream of gas in a controlled manner, in particular a stream of air, which allows for an excellent field of vision.

[0007] According to a simple and economical advantageous feature, the gas distribution installation has a longitudinal extension and it distributes the compressed gas in a transverse direction.

[0008] According to another advantageous feature, the fluid distribution system distributes a cleaning fluid according to the wiping blade because, in this way, cleaning fluid or liquid is saved.

[0009] Particularly advantageously, the gas distribution system is designed to distribute a pulse of gas. This allows the gas to be distributed in a targeted manner to the necessary areas.

[0010] According to a particularly advantageous feature, the gas pulse is emitted in a defined wiping position, in particular in the inversion position because this avoids drag.

[0011] The gas distribution installation includes a channel with orifices, which is a simple and economical and therefore advantageous solution.

[0012] According to a particularly advantageous feature, the channel is designed for both the transport of liquid and the transport of gas because thus a single channel is sufficient.

[0013] The channel is made of plastic, which is a particularly simple and economical solution and therefore advantageous.

[0014] The field of vision is improved and, moreover, the wiping device according to the invention advantageously comprises a wiper blade with a gas distribution unit. Brief description of the drawings

[0015] The present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings in which

[0016] [Fig-1] Schematic perspective view of a windshield wiper blade according to the invention,

[0017] [Fig.2] schematic section of a windshield wiper blade according to the invention,

[0018] [Fig.3] functional diagram of a windshield wiper blade according to the invention in operation, and

[0019] [Fig.4] Schematic view of a wiping device according to the invention.

[0020] DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT METHODS OF THE INVENTION

[0021] The side of the wiper blade 10 opposite the mounting means 14 has a wiping lip 18 which, during operation, driven by the wiper arm 16, slides over the windshield to be cleaned and removes its moisture. Both ends, along its longitudinal extension L, have a respective end cap 20 that terminates the wiper blade 10 in the direction of its longitudinal extension L. The same side as the wiper blade 10, along the longitudinal extension L, has a deflector 26 having a deflector structure and improving the application pressure of the wiper blade against the windshield when the wiper blade is subjected to the flow of circulating wind.

[0022] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a section of the wiper blade 10 according to the invention. The wiping lip 18 is held between two parts of the elastic rail 24. The two parts of the elastic rail 24 are pinched by the deflector blade 22. The deflector blade 22 has a top surface or upper surface in the form of a deflector profile 26. A channel 28 is formed in the deflector blade 22 in one piece; this channel has an orifice 30, thus forming a gas distribution system 32. The channel 28 is located practically along the entire longitudinal extension L of the wiper blade 10. The channel 28 has several orifices 30; the spacing between the orifices is approximately 1.5 cm. The gap between the orifices can, however, be between 4 mm and 50 mm for orifices 30. When a gas, for example air, is sent Under pressure in channel 28, a jet of gas with a controlled gas flow is emitted in the transverse direction Q, i.e. transverse to the longitudinal direction L, through orifice 30. Orifice 30 is provided so that the gas stream is directed towards the upper surface of the glass to be wiped.

[0023] The channel 28 can also receive cleaning fluid. When the fluid is compressed, it passes through the orifice 30 and wets the glass to be wiped. Thus, the channel 28 and the orifice(s) 30 form a fluid distribution system 34. The channel 28 can receive, for example, alternately, gas and cleaning fluid.

[0024] Figure 3 shows the operation of the windshield wiper blade 10 according to the invention, i.e., the wiping device 50 (Fig. 4), in a schematic representation. During operation, the windshield wiper blade 10 performs a pendulum motion. The windshield wiper blade 10 thus moves from a lower storage position in the plane of the drawing, which corresponds to the plane of the windshield, upwards. During this upward motion, cleaning fluid is applied to the windshield to be wiped. The upward motion phase is followed by a downward motion phase ending at the reversal position of the wiper blade 10, i.e., the direction of movement. In this reversal position, the direction of the wiper blade changes.In this inversion position 38, a short pulse of gas is emitted through channel 28 and thus through orifices 30, to inject the residual cleaning fluid from channel 28 and also to prevent water or cleaning fluid from being carried away during the downward movement of the wiper blade 10.

[0025] As an alternative or in addition, instead of a brief jet of gas, gas can also be distributed practically throughout the entire downward movement in order to have a controlled air stream practically throughout the entire downward movement of the wiper blade 10.

[0026] A brief gas pulse means that the gas is distributed at the beginning of the downward movement or already just before the beginning of the downward movement in an angular range 40 up to 10° and in particular up to 5°.

[0027] Figure 4 schematically shows a wiping device 50 according to the invention. This device comprises a drive unit 52 and a wiping unit 54 with a wiper blade 10. The wiping unit 54 includes a cleaning unit 56 that can pump cleaning fluid into the cleaning system. A gas generating unit 60 is also provided, which fills a gas line 62 with compressed gas, i.e., gas that exerts pressure. The pressurized gas line 62 and the cleaning line 68 open into a valve system 64 that supplies the line 66 with gas or cleaning fluid. The line 68 controls the supply of gas or cleaning fluid; this line is connected to the drive unit 52. In this way and according to the angular position of the wiper blade 10, the valve installation 64 supplies either gas or liquid to the supply line 66. The supply line 66 is connected to the channel 28 of the wiper blade.

[0028] The channel 28 is formed in one piece with the deflector blade 22 from a plastic material, in particular EPDM, by an extrusion process. For this purpose, a multi-component extrusion process can be used in which different plastic materials are combined. In particular, the channel 28 can be made of a different plastic material than the rest of the deflector blade 22. The orifices 30 are drilled in the channel 28 using a laser beam; these orifices have a diameter of less than 1 mm, in particular a diameter on the order of 0.4 mm.

[0029] Alternatively, the invention may provide two parallel channels 28. The channel 28 that is, in each case, at the front or upstream end depending on the wiping direction receives the cleaning fluid, and the rear or downstream channel 28, depending on the wiping direction, receives the gas. As described above, either a brief gas pulse or a gas distribution over a wider range of wiper blade movement 10 may be provided.

[0030] The valve assembly 64 is, for example, in the form of a solenoid valve. However, mechanical solutions are also possible, namely a mechanical link between the drive unit 52 and the valve assembly 64. The gas generating unit 60 is, for example, a simple compressed air pump that draws in ambient air and pressurizes it in the gas pressure line 62. The gas generating unit 60 can also be combined with a tank that stores compressed air. Alternatively, a cartridge system using gas cartridges can also be provided, particularly if a gas other than air is to be used. Furthermore, the gas generating unit 60 is equipped with a heating system that heats the gas with compressed air. Thus, the gas, which is, for example, nitrogen or helium, is used in parallel with the air.In principle, however, any gas or mixture of gases can be used.

[0031] The cleaning unit 56 includes a reservoir containing cleaning fluid, for example, water with added cleaning agent such as a surfactant. Furthermore, the cleaning unit 56 includes a pump that pressurizes the cleaning fluid to supply the cleaning line 58.

[0032] NOMENCLATURE OF MAIN ELEMENTS

[0033] 10 Windshield wiper blade

[0034] 12 Wiping blade

[0035] 14 Means of attachment

[0036] 16 Windshield wiper arm

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[0056] 18 Wiping lip 20 End cap 22 Deflector blade 24 Elastic rail 28 Channel 30 Orifice 32 Gas distribution system 36 Upward movement 38 Downward movement / reversal position 50 Wiping device 52 Drive unit 54 Wiping unit 56 Cleaning unit 58 Cleaning line 60 Gas generating unit / compression unit 62 Pressurized gas line 64 Valve installation 66 Supply line L Longitudinal extension of the wiping blade Q Transverse direction

Claims

Demands

1. Windshield wiper blade (10), particularly for a motor vehicle, comprising a wiping blade (12), a fluid distribution system (34) and a gas distribution system (32); characterized in that the gas distribution system (32) is designed to distribute a pulse of gas.

2. Wiper blade (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas distribution installation (32) is provided to distribute a controlled gas stream, in particular an air stream.

3. Wiper blade (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the channel forms a gas distribution installation (32) along the longitudinal extension (L) and the gas, in particular air, is emitted in the transverse direction (Q) with a controlled flow rate.

4. Wiper blade (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluid distribution installation (34) is provided to distribute a cleaning fluid in particular along the wiping blade (12).

5. Wiper blade (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gas impulse is distributed in a defined wiping position, in particular in the inversion position.

6. Wiper blade (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gas distribution installation (32) comprises a channel (28) with orifices (30).

7. Wiper blade (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that the channel (28) is provided for a gas in particular air.

8. Wiper blade (10) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the channel (28) is made of plastic material.

9. Wiping device (50), particularly for a motor vehicle, comprising a drive unit (52), a cleaning unit (56) with a windshield wiper blade (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a gas compression unit (60).

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