Protective device for a wiping system

Abstract

Title: Protective Device for a Wiping System The invention relates to a protective device (10) for a wiping system (1), this protective device comprising: a first rotating member (11) configured to be rotated by a motor of the wiping system, a second rotating member (12) configured to be linked to a wiping brush arm of the wiping system, wherein the first member (11) and the second member (12) are assembled so as to pass reversibly between an engaged position in which the first member (11) and the second member (12) are rotationally linked so as to transmit a rotational torque from the motor to the wiping brush, and a disengaged position in which the first member (11) and the second member (12) are rotationally unlinked. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Protective device for a wiping system

[0001] The present invention relates to a protection device for a wiping system.

[0002] In certain operating situations of a motor vehicle wiping system, high mechanical stresses may occur when the wiping angle is reduced by an obstacle, for example snow. The electric motor which operates the wiping system may then be damaged.

[0003] The invention aims in particular to overcome this type of problem.

[0004] The invention thus relates to a protection device for a wiping system, this protection device comprising: - a first rotary member configured to be rotated by a motor of the wiping system, in particular being rotated by a transmission mechanism, or forming part of the output shaft of the motor, - a second rotating member configured to be connected, in particular directly or via a linkage, to a wiper arm of the wiping system, in which the first member and the second member are assembled so as to pass, reversibly, between an engaged position in which the first member and the second member are linked in rotation so as to transmit a rotational torque from the motor to the wiper blade, and a disengaged position in which the first member and the second member are separated in rotation.

[0005] Thanks to the invention, in the disengaged position, the first member and the second member are separated in rotation so that the motor can continue to rotate while the rotation of the wiper blade is hindered by an obstacle present on the surface to be wiped. This obstacle is for example an accumulation of ice or snow on the surface to be wiped. The invention thus makes it possible to avoid an overload on the motor in the event of the wiper blade being prevented from rotating. In other words, the invention makes it possible to avoid high mechanical stresses on the parts of the wiping system when the wiping angle is reduced by an obstacle.

[0006] The fact that the protection device allows the switching from the engaged position to the disengaged position in a reversible manner is particularly advantageous because, once the obstacle (for example snow or ice) has been crossed, the protection device can automatically return to the engaged position and the system can operate normally again. There is no need for external intervention to reset the device in normal operating condition.

[0007] The invention is also advantageous in that the fitting arm does not require modification for the implementation of the protection device. The protection device mainly requires a modification at the bearing level.

[0008] The possibility of switching to the disengaged position makes it possible to delay a possible loss of the wiping function. Indeed, in the absence of such disengagement, an impact of the wiper on an obstacle can cause the immediate loss of the wiping function.

[0009] According to one aspect of the invention, the first rotary member and the second rotary member comprise complementary shapes which can fit together in the engaged position and which are disengaged in the disengaged position.

[0010] According to one aspect of the invention, the complementary shapes form a set of cams between the first rotary member and the second rotary member.

[0011] According to one aspect of the invention, two sets of identical cams may be provided.

[0012] According to one aspect of the invention, the set of cams comprises an oblique ramp on one of the rotary members and a tooth on the other of the rotary members which can slide on the ramp between the engaged position in which the tooth is resting on the ramp, and the disengaged position in which the tooth is out of the ramp.

[0013] According to one aspect of the invention, the ramp is formed on a V-shaped notch.

[0014] According to one aspect of the invention, the tooth is formed on the second member rotary linked to the wiper blade.

[0015] According to one aspect of the invention, the ramp, in particular the V-shaped notch, is formed on the first rotary member linked to the motor.

[0016] According to one aspect of the invention, the first rotary member and the second rotary member are coaxial.

[0017] According to one aspect of the invention, the first rotary member configured to be rotated by a motor surrounds, at least over a portion of height, the second rotary member.

[0018] Alternatively, the first rotary member configured to be rotated by a motor is surrounded, at least over a portion of height, by the second rotary member.

[0019] According to one aspect of the invention, the protection device comprises an elastic member, in particular a coil spring or a washer spring, configured to exert a force tending to bring the first rotary member and the second rotary member towards each other to maintain them in the engaged position.

[0020] When moving from the engaged position to the disengaged position, the first rotary member and the second rotary member undergo a displacement with an axial component, namely along the longitudinal axis common to these rotary members.

[0021] The invention also relates to a wiping system comprising a protection device as mentioned above, and a motor configured to drive the first rotary member in rotation.

[0022] According to one aspect of the invention, the engine comprises an electronic module for controlling the engine.

[0023] According to one aspect of the invention, the electronic module is configured to reduce the output torque of the motor in the event of mechanical overload of the motor.

[0024] In the case of such a motor with an electronic module, which may require a reaction time to reduce the output torque, the protection device according to the invention makes it possible to switch to the disengaged position while the electronic module gives the order to reduce the torque, or to switch off the motor. This makes it possible to absorb the shock against the obstacle on the window, avoiding excessive torque on the motor. Then, possibly, once the torque has been reduced, it is possible to switch back to the engaged position and return to normal operation of the wiping system.

[0025] Alternatively, the motor is devoid of control electronics.

[0026] The invention also relates to a method for protecting a wiping system as mentioned above, comprising the following step: - allow the protective device to move to the disengaged position when the wiper blade stroke is obstructed by an obstacle.

[0027] The stroke of the brush is hindered for example because the torque exerted by the motor does not allow the brush to push the obstacle sufficiently so that this obstacle can be cleared by the force exerted by the brush.

[0028] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description which follows on the one hand, and several exemplary embodiments given for informational and non-limiting purposes with reference to the appended schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0029] [Fig.l] [Fig.l] represents a wiping system comprising a protection device according to an example of the invention, in the disengaged position;

[0030] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents the wiping system comprising the device of protection according to [Fig.l], in engaged position;

[0031] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] shows different parts of the system of figures 1 and 2;

[0032] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a representation of a protective device according to another embodiment.

[0033] The features, variants and different embodiments of the invention may be combined with each other, in various combinations, provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be imagined comprising only a selection of features described below in isolation from the others. described features, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage and / or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0034] Figures 1 to 3 show a wiping system 1 comprising a protection device 10 according to an example of the invention, and a motor 2.

[0035] The electric motor 2 comprises an electronic module 3 for controlling the motor.

[0036] The electronic module 3 is configured to reduce the output torque of the motor in the event of mechanical overload of the motor.

[0037] The wiping system 1 comprises a wiper arm 4 connected to a blade, not visible, for wiping a wiping area of ​​a windshield. The motor 2 is configured to rotate the wiper arm 4, as can be explained below.

[0038] The protection device 10 comprises: - a first rotary member 11, rotating around an axis X, configured to be rotated by the motor 2 of the wiping system 1, in particular being rotated by a transmission mechanism, or forming part of the output axis of the motor 2, - a second rotary member 12, rotating around the X axis, configured to be linked, directly or via a linkage, to the wiper arm 4 of the wiping system 1.

[0039] The first member 11 and the second member 12 are assembled so as to pass, reversibly, between an engaged position in which the first member 11 and the second member 12 are linked in rotation so as to transmit a rotational torque from the motor to the wiper blade (situation of [Fig.2]), and a disengaged position in which the first member 11 and the second member 12 are separated in rotation (situation of [Fig.1]).

[0040] Thus, in the disengaged position, the first member 11 and the second member 12 are separated in rotation so that the motor 2 can continue to rotate while the rotation of the wiper blade is hindered by an obstacle present on the surface to be wiped. This obstacle is for example an accumulation of ice or snow on the surface to be wiped. The invention thus makes it possible to avoid an overload on the motor 2 in the event of the wiper blade being prevented from rotating. In other words, the invention makes it possible to avoid high mechanical stresses on the parts of the wiping system 1 when the wiping angle is reduced by an obstacle.

[0041] The fact that the protection device allows the transition from the engaged position to the disengaged position in a reversible manner is particularly advantageous because, once the obstacle (for example snow or ice) has been crossed, the protection device can automatically return to the engaged position and the system can again operate normally. There is no need for any external invention to restore the device to normal operating condition.

[0042] The possibility of switching to the disengaged position makes it possible to delay a possible loss of the wiping function. Indeed, in the absence of such disengagement, an impact of the wiper on an obstacle can cause the immediate loss of the wiping function.

[0043] The first rotary member 11 and the second rotary member 12 have complementary shapes which can fit together in the engaged position and which are disengaged in the disengaged position.

[0044] The complementary shapes form a set of cams between the first rotary member and the second rotary member 11 and 12.

[0045] Two sets of identical cams may be provided.

[0046] In the example described, the set of cams comprises an oblique ramp 14 on one of the rotary members, here the first member 11, and a tooth 15, triangular in shape, on the other of the rotary members, here the second member 12, capable of sliding on the ramp 14 between the engaged position in which the tooth 15 is resting on the ramp 14, and the disengaged position in which the tooth 15 is out of the ramp 14.

[0047] The ramp 14 is formed on a V-shaped notch.

[0048] Other forms of ramps and teeth can, of course, be provided.

[0049] The first rotary member 11 and the second rotary member 12 are coaxial, with rotation axis X.

[0050] The first rotary member 11, having the overall shape of a hollow cylindrical sleeve, surrounds, over a portion of height, the second rotary member 12.

[0051] As a variant, the first rotary member 11 configured to be rotated by a motor is surrounded, at least over a portion of height, by the second rotary member 12.

[0052] The protection device 10 comprises an elastic member 20, here a coil spring, configured to exert a force tending to bring the first rotary member 11 and the second rotary member 12 towards each other to keep them in the engaged position. The spring 20 is held by a washer 23 fixed to the second rotary member 12.

[0053] When moving from the engaged position to the disengaged position, the first rotary member 11 and the second rotary member 12 undergo a displacement with an axial component, namely along the longitudinal axis X (coinciding with the axis of rotation X) common to these rotary members 11 and 12.

[0054] The first rotary member 11 is housed in a bearing 30, with the possibility of rotation.

[0055] The first rotary member 11 is integral with a drive member 31 linked to the engine 2.

[0056] In the case of the motor 2 with an electronic module 3, which may require a reaction time to reduce the output torque, the protection device 10 according to The invention aims to switch to the disengaged position while the electronic module gives the order to reduce the torque, or to switch off the motor. This makes it possible to absorb the shock against the obstacle on the window, avoiding excessive torque on the motor. Then, possibly, once the torque has been reduced, it is possible to switch back to the engaged position and return to normal operation of the wiping system.

[0057] Alternatively, the motor is devoid of control electronics.

[0058] Another example of an embodiment of the invention is shown in [Fig.4].

[0059] In this exemplary embodiment of the invention, the spring 20 is placed not on the side of the motor 2 as in the example of figures 1 to 3, but on the side opposite the motor 2, in particular on the side where there is a crank 40 which is linked to the rotating member 12.

[0060] This crank 40 is used to drive the broom arm.

[0061] The spring 20 is interposed between the crank 40 and a washer 42 placed at one end of the rotary member 11 opposite the output of the motor 2.

[0062] This washer 42 is retained by a screw 43 of the rotating member 11 which is linked to the output shaft of the motor 2.

[0063] In the example described, the motor 2 comprises a reduction box 44 and an armature 45, and the first rotary member 11 is connected to the reduction box 44.

Claims

Claims

1. Protective device (10) for a wiping system (1), this protective device comprising: - a first rotary member (11) configured to be rotated by a motor of the wiping system, - a second rotary member (12) configured to be connected to a wiper arm of the wiping system, in which the first member (11) and the second member (12) are assembled so as to pass, reversibly, between an engaged position in which the first member (11) and the second member (12) are connected in rotation so as to transmit a rotational torque from the motor to the wiper arm, and a disengaged position in which the first member (11) and the second member (12) are disconnected in rotation.

2. Protective device (10) according to the preceding claim, in which the first rotary member (11) and the second rotary member (12) comprise complementary shapes (14, 15) which can fit together in the engaged position and which are disengaged in the disengaged position.

3. Protective device (10) according to the preceding claim, in which the complementary shapes form a set of cams between the first rotary member (11) and the second rotary member (12).

4. Protective device (10) according to the preceding claim, in which the set of cams comprises an oblique ramp (14) on one of the rotating members and a tooth (15) on the other of the rotating members capable of sliding on the ramp between the engaged position in which the tooth is resting on the ramp, and the disengaged position in which the tooth is out of the ramp.

5. Protective device (10) according to the preceding claim, in which the ramp (14) is formed on a V-shaped notch.

6. Protective device (10) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the tooth (15) is formed on the second rotating member (12) linked to the wiper blade.

7. Protective device (10) according to one of claims 4 to 6, in which the ramp (14), in particular the V-shaped notch, is formed on the first rotating member (11) linked to the motor.

8. Protective device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the first rotary member (11) configured to be rotated by a motor surrounds, at least over a portion of height, the second rotary member (12).

9. Protective device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the protective device (10) comprises an elastic member (20), in particular a coil spring or a washer spring, configured to exert a force tending to bring the first rotary member (11) and the second rotary member (12) towards each other to keep them in the engaged position.

10. Wiping system (1) comprising a protection device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, and a motor (2) configured to drive the first rotary member in rotation.

11. Wiping system (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the motor comprises an electronic module (3) for controlling the motor.

12. Method for protecting a wiping system according to one of claims 10 and 11, comprising the following step: - allowing the protection device (10) to move into the disengaged position when the travel of the wiper blade is hindered by an obstacle.

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