Vehicle windshield wiper system

Abstract

Title: Vehicle window wiping system. A vehicle window wiping system, particularly for windshields, comprising at least one wiping arm (12) with a drive unit (14), in particular a reversible drive unit for direct drive of the wiping arm (12), and at least one control unit (16) for regulating the position of the drive unit (14), the system characterized in that the control unit (16) ensures continuous position regulation of the drive unit (14) at least in one assembly operating step. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Vehicle window wiping system FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle window wiping system comprising a wiping arm, a drive unit, in particular a reversible drive unit for directly driving the wiping arm, and a calculation unit for regulating the position of the drive unit. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] A vehicle window wiping system of the type defined above is already known.

[0003] DISCLOSURE AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to a vehicle window wiping system, in particular a windshield, comprising at least one wiping arm with a drive unit, in particular the reversible drive unit for direct driving of the wiping arm, and at least one calculation unit for regulating the position of the drive unit, a system characterized in that the calculation unit ensures continuous position regulation of the drive unit at least in one mounting operating step.

[0005] Preferably, in the assembled operating state, the wiper arm is mounted on the drive unit. The wiper arm is connected to the output shaft of the drive unit by a conical fit with interference. The wiper can also be connected by other connection methods.

[0006] The wiping system comprises a wiping arm, optionally several arms, in particular two wiping arms. The wiping arm is provided for a mounting, in particular pivoting, of the wiping blade of the wiping system relative to the surface to be cleaned. The wiping blade is, particularly preferably, a windscreen wiper blade, in particular a vehicle windscreen wiper blade. The surface to be cleaned and the wiping system are part of the vehicle, which is in particular a motor vehicle, for example, a passenger vehicle, a heavy goods vehicle, a railway vehicle, a bus or a similar vehicle such as a railway vehicle, a water vehicle, an air vehicle. The wiping system has at least one transmission element, in particular a reversible wiping rod for transmitting the rotational movement or the pivoting movement of the drive unit to a wiping arm (or windscreen wiper arm).

[0007] The drive unit is constituted in particular by a reversible drive unit. The drive unit is constituted in particular by a wiper or wiper arm drive unit. The drive unit consists of a motor, in particular an electric motor for driving the wiper arm. The motor is preferably a reversible motor, in particular for direct driving of the wiper arm or alternatively, in particular in the case of indirect driving of the wiper arm by a transmission element and, in this case, the motor is a rotating motor. The motor comprises a stator, a rotor and a drive shaft coupled to the rotor. The drive shaft further has a transmission. This transmission is part of the flow of the drive torque in particular between the drive shaft and the output shaft of the drive unit. The drive unit has a housing housing the motor and the transmission. The housing comprises in particular a housing part receiving the transmission and a housing part receiving the motor.The term "drive shaft" refers to the part of the drive unit, in particular of the motor and preferably of a continuous drive which, in particular in at least one operating state, provides a rotational movement for at least one other unit. Furthermore, a drive unit is provided having at least one reversal of the direction of rotation, in particular, in the end positions of the wiper arm for reversing the direction of movement.

[0008] The term "computing unit" refers to a unit with an information input, information processing and an information output. The computing unit has a processor, a memory, an input means and an output means which are electronic components, an operating program, control routines, control routines and / or calculation routines. Preferably, the components of the computing unit are installed on a common circuit board and / or are advantageously housed in a common housing. The term "continuous position control" refers in the present context to a particularly permanent position control, in which the set position of the drive unit is particularly permanently regulated on the output shaft according to a predefined value.

[0009] Preferably, the position correction is carried out directly by detection, i.e. in particular within the framework of an angular resolution of a sensor of the computing unit and / or the drive unit. Preferably, the angular resolution is equal to at least 0.5° and in particular 0.1° and in a particular manner at least 0.05°. Furthermore, continuous angular capture can also be envisaged. The position control has no capture area. The position control is carried out in particular directly without an capture area.

[0010] The wiping system according to the invention allows in particular direct regulation of the position without a gripping zone. When dismantling the wiping lever, it may happen that due to high friction conditions, the output shaft disengages the drive beyond the set position. For current wiping systems, we have, in In particular, an input zone of + / -1°. Only then is the rotation detected and taken into account. This can result in a mounting offset of up to 1°. This results in a large dispersion of parking positions. The inventive design of the wiping system prevents the wiper arm from becoming misaligned.

[0011] According to another feature, the drive unit has at least one electric motor with a rotor and a rotor position sensor. The position sensor is in particular constituted by a rotor position sensor integrated in the motor. The position sensor is in particular constituted by a sensor unit. Alternatively, a position sensor integrated in the electronics of the electric motor could also be envisaged. The term "sensor unit" in the present context designates in particular a unit for receiving at least one characteristic quantity and / or physical property and this reception is carried out actively, for example, by transmitting and receiving electrical measurement signals and / or passively, for example, by capturing property changes of a sensor component. Various technically interesting sensor units can be envisaged.In particular, it is advantageous to reliably detect the position of the drive shaft and the output shaft of the drive unit. This then enables a particularly fast response time for continuous position control. In addition, by capturing a rotor position, the advantage is high angular resolution.

[0012] According to another feature, the computing unit, in at least one mounting operating state, ensures the continuous regulation of the position of the drive unit with the rotor position sensor of the electric motor. This provides, in particular, advantageously precise position regulation. This results in the advantage of fast position regulation for continuous position regulation. Furthermore, by capturing the rotor position, the advantage is in particular of high angular resolution.

[0013] According to another feature, the electric motor is a direct current motor, in particular a brushless direct current motor. The electric motor consists in particular of a brushless electronically commutated motor (EC motor). The electric motor is in particular a commutated electric motor. The motor is preferably a synchronous motor, in particular an alternating current synchronous motor with excitation by permanent magnets. The electric motor has in particular a stator and a rotor rotating in synchronism with the stator. The technology of electronically commutated electric motors allows advantageous position regulation, in particular if the rotor position sensor is used instead of the output shaft position sensor. This allows much faster detection of a position change.

[0014] According to another feature, the drive unit has an output shaft to be connected to the wiper arm and at least one transmission between the electric motor of the drive unit and the output shaft. The output shaft constitutes in particular the wiper bearing. The term "wiper bearing" designates the attachment of a wiper arm. In particular, the wiper bearing is provided to perform rotation about an axis. Furthermore, the transmission is formed in particular by a worm wheel transmission. The worm wheel transmission is the combination of a screw transmission and a pinion transmission and consists of a helical screw axis and a toothed wheel, namely the worm wheel. The pitch of the worm shaft comes into the intervals of the teeth of the worm wheel. The worm shaft of the transmission is in particular integral with the drive shaft.The pinion is in particular connected in rotation to the output shaft, which allows an advantageous reduction, in particular between the motor and the wiper bearing.

[0015] According to another characteristic, the transmission has a gear ratio, in particular between the number of drive teeth and the number of output teeth, which is at least 50:1. Preferably, the transmission has a gear ratio of the drive rotational speed to the output rotational speed of at least 60:1, preferably at least 70:1. The transmission has, in particular and by way of example, a gear ratio of 76:1. Thus, there is an advantageous gear ratio, in particular between the motor and the wiper bearing. Thanks to the high gear ratio, the position of the rotor of the electric motor can be changed in an advantageously rapid and precise manner.

[0016] The invention also relates to a vehicle for the wiping system.

[0017] The invention also relates to a method of mounting the wiping system. It is proposed that in at least one assembly step the wiper arm of the wiper system is installed on the output shaft of the drive unit of the wiper system,

[0018] * with the calculation unit we carry out continuously, in particular without input range, a position control of the drive unit. In the assembly step, the wiper arm with its axle housing is installed on the output shaft of the drive unit. The output shaft has its own tapered area to create a connection via a tapered fit with interference fit.

[0019] Preferably, the output shaft has an external thread for receiving a nut for fixing the wiper arm. For position regulation, the rotational position of the drive unit, in particular of the output shaft, is permanently regulated to a predefined value. Thus, thanks to the method of the invention, during assembly there is direct position regulation without an input range. In particular, it is prevented that during assembly, particularly due to high friction conditions, the output shaft of the drive leaves its set position. Brief description of the drawings

[0020] The present invention will be described below in more detail with the aid of an embodiment of a vehicle window wiping system shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

[0021] [Fig-1] wiping system according to the invention with a drive unit and a wiping arm according to a schematic representation, and

[0022] [Fig.2] Schematic flowchart of the assembly of the wiping system according to the invention.

[0023] DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0024] [Fig.l] shows a wiping system 10. The wiping system 10 is intended for a vehicle window and in particular for the windshield of a vehicle. The windshield and the wiping system 10 are part of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle such as a passenger vehicle.

[0025] The wiping system 10 has a wiping arm 12. The wiping arm 12 is provided for a particularly pivotable installation of a wiper blade, not shown, of the wiping system 10, relative to the vehicle window. The wiper blade is a wiper blade. The wiping arm 12 has a fastening part 28. The fastening part 28 has two wiper arm segments 30, 32 and a hinge 34. The wiper arm segments 30, 32 are connected by the hinge 34. Furthermore, in the region of the hinge 34 there is a spring element, not shown in detail. This spring element, not shown in detail, pushes, in the pressure zone of the second wiper arm segment 32, this second segment 32 towards the window. The first wiper arm segment 30 is connected to a drive unit 14. This drive unit 14 is connected to the wiper arm 12 by its output shaft 22.The output shaft 22 considered along the main direction of extension of the wiper arm 12 is at the outer end of the wiper arm 12 by being connected there to the fixing part 28. The end of the second wiper arm segment 32 opposite the hinge 34 is provided with a non-detailed wiper arm adapter. The wiper arm adapter is provided to receive the wiper blade adapter. The wiper arm adapter thus receives the wiper blade adapter.

[0026] The wiping system 10 further comprises a drive unit 14. This drive unit 14 is constituted by a reversible drive unit. The drive unit 14 is provided for the direct drive of the wiper arm 12. The drive unit 14 has an electric motor 18 composed of a rotor and a rotor position sensor 20. The electric motor 18 has a stator, a rotor and a drive shaft coupled to the rotor. The position sensor 20 is formed by the rotor position sensor integrated in the motor. The electric motor 18 is formed by a DC motor. The electric motor 18 is formed by a brushless DC motor. The electric motor 18 is constituted by a commutated electric motor. The electric motor 18 is preferably a synchronous motor, in particular an AC synchronous motor with permanent magnet excitation. The rotor of the electric motor 18 rotates in synchronism with the stator.

[0027] The drive unit 14 further has an output shaft 22 for direct connection to the wiper arm 12. The output shaft 22 forms, in particular, a wiper bearing. The output shaft 22 has a conical region for producing a conical pressed connection with the wiper arm 12. The output shaft 22 further has an external thread for receiving a nut 36 for fixing the wiper arm 12. The wiper arm 12 is in particular pressed by the nut 36 with an internal cone onto the conical region of the output shaft 22.

[0028] The drive unit 14 further comprises a transmission 24 between the electric motor 18 of the drive unit 14 and the output shaft 22. The transmission 24 is a worm transmission. The worm transmission is the combination of a screw transmission and a pinion transmission; it consists of a helical shaft and a toothed wheel as well as a worm wheel. The thread pitch of the worm wheel shaft enters the intervals of the teeth of the worm wheel. The worm shaft of the transmission 24 is rotationally fixed to the drive shaft of the electric motor 18. The toothed belt of the transmission 24 is rigidly connected to the output shaft 22. The transmission 24 has a transmission ratio, in particular a number of revolutions on the motor side relative to the number of revolutions on the output side of at least 50:1.Preferably, the transmission 24 has a gear ratio from the input rotational speed to the output rotational speed which is at least 60:1 and preferably at least 70:1. The transmission 24 has, for example, a transmission ratio of 76:1.

[0029] The drive unit 14 also has a housing 37 housing the electric motor 18 and the transmission 24. The housing 37 has, for example, a transmission housing portion 38 and a motor housing portion 40.

[0030] The wiping system 10 has a computing unit 16 for regulating the position of the drive unit 14; this unit is integrated in the transmission housing 38 as an ECU unit. The computing unit 16 is provided in an installed operating state for continuously regulating the position of the drive unit 14, for which the rotational position of the drive unit 14, in particular of the output shaft 28, is permanently regulated to a predefined value. Preferably, the correction position control is done directly upon detection. The computing unit 16 is at least in the mounting operating state for continuous position control of the drive unit 14 with the position sensor 20 of the rotor of the electric motor 18.

[0031] [Fig. 2] shows a schematic flowchart of a method for mounting the windscreen wiper system 10. According to the method, in the mounting step 26 the wiper arm 12 of the wiper system 10 is installed on the output shaft 22 of the drive unit 14 of the windscreen wiper system 10. In the mounting step 26, the wiper arm 12 with its axle housing is installed on the output shaft 22 of the drive unit 14 and fixed and tightened with the nut 36. During the mounting step 26, a position control of the drive unit 14 is carried out permanently and without a gripping zone with the computing unit 16. For the position control, the rotational position of the drive unit 14, in particular of the output shaft 22, is regulated by permanently on a predefined value. For this purpose, in a substep 42 the rotational position of the drive unit 14 is permanently monitored with the position sensor 20.If the actual rotational position corresponds to the set position, the partial step 40 is repeated permanently. If the actual rotational position does not correspond to the set rotational position, a correction step 44 is carried out in which the rotational position of the drive unit 14 will be adapted to the set rotational position. The adaptation of the rotational position is carried out by controlling the electric motor 18. During assembly, for example, the opposing holds can be directly opposed to an assembly force that would rotate the output shaft 22. Then, the assembly step 26 or the partial step 42 can be repeated permanently.

[0032] NOMENCLATURE OF MAIN ELEMENTS

[0033] 10 Wiping system

[0034] 12 Wiper arm

[0035] 14 Chamber / drive unit

[0036] 16 Calculation unit

[0037] 18 Electric motor

[0038] 20 Position sensor

[0039] 22 Drive unit output shaft

[0040] 24 Transmission

[0041] 26 Assembly step

[0042] 28 Fixing piece

[0043] 30 Wiper arm segment

[0044] 32 Second wiper arm segment

[0045] 36 Nut for fixing the arm

[0046]

[0047]

[0048]

[0049] 37 Electric motor and transmission housing 38 Housing part 40 Housing part 42 Permanently repeated partial step

Claims

Demands

1. Vehicle window wiping system, in particular windshield wiping system comprising at least one wiping arm (12) with a drive unit (14), in particular the reversible drive unit for direct drive of the wiping arm (12) and at least one calculation unit (16) for regulating the position of the drive unit (14), system characterized in that the calculation unit (16) ensures continuous position regulation of the drive unit (14) at least in one assembly operating step.

2. Wiping system according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive unit (14) has an electric motor (18) with a rotor and a rotor position sensor (20).

3. Wiping system according to claim 2, characterized in that the calculation unit (16), in at least one mounting operating state, is provided for the continuous regulation of the position of the drive unit (14) by the position sensor (20) of the rotor of the electric motor (18).

4. Wiping system according to claim 2, characterized in that the electric motor (18) is an electronically commutated DC electric motor, in particular a brushless electric motor.

5. Wiping system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive unit (14) has an output shaft (22) for being connected to the wiping arm (12) and at least one transmission (24) between the electric motor (18) of the drive unit (14) and the output shaft (22).

6. Wiping system according to claim 5, characterized in that the transmission (24) has a gear ratio in particular of the drive rotation speed to the output rotation speed of at least 50:

1.

7. Vehicle comprising a wiping system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.

8. Method of mounting a wiping system (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that in at least one assembly step (26) the wiping arm (12) of the wiping system (10) is mounted on the output shaft (22) of the drive unit (14) of the wiping system (10), * with the computing unit (16) a position regulation of the drive unit (14) is carried out permanently, in particular without an input range.

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