Windshield wiper assembly

Abstract

TITLE: Windshield Wiper Device A windshield wiper device for cleaning a vehicle window comprising at least one wiper blade extending between a longitudinal extension direction and a set of nozzle elements (100) for applying a liquid, in particular windshield washer fluid, to the window, the nozzle elements (100) being distributed on the wiper blade along the longitudinal extension direction. The wiper device is characterized in that the wiper blade has at least one first longitudinal segment (70a) and at least one second longitudinal segment (70b), * in the first longitudinal segment (70a), the nozzle density relative to the longitudinal extension direction is lower than that of the second longitudinal segment (70b) of the same wiper blade. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Windshield wiper device FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a windshield wiper device, in particular for a motor vehicle, as well as a windshield wiper blade. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Many windshield wiper devices are already known, particularly for motor vehicles, which have a wiper blade with nozzle elements integrated to apply windshield washer fluid directly through the wiper blade onto the windshield.

[0003] DESCRIPTION AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention begins with a windshield wiper device for cleaning a vehicle window with at least one wiper blade. The wiper blade has a set of nozzle elements for applying a liquid, particularly windshield washer fluid, to the window. These nozzle elements are distributed along the longitudinal extension direction of the wiper blade. According to the invention, the wiper blade has at least a first and a second longitudinal segment. In the first longitudinal segment, the nozzle density relative to the longitudinal extension direction is lower than that in the second longitudinal segment of the same wiper blade.

[0005] The windshield wiper device according to the invention has the advantage of preventing the undesirable accumulation of water in the overlap area of ​​two wiper blades, particularly in a windshield wiper device. Furthermore, the invention advantageously reduces the amount of windshield washer fluid required. Due to the reduced accumulation of washer fluid in the overlap area between the two wiper blades, which respectively sweep across a cleaning zone of the windshield, the driver's visibility during the cleaning phase is advantageously improved. The asymmetrical arrangement allows for targeted adaptation of the cleaning power to different areas of the windshield.Preferably, the coverage area of ​​the first longitudinal segment is supplied with windshield washer fluid by another longitudinal segment of the same segment or by another operating wiper blade, which advantageously reduces accumulation over the entire cleaning area.

[0006] According to the invention, a longitudinal segment having a reduced nozzle density, in particular a segment of the wiper blade in which the number of nozzles per its longitudinal extension is reduced in a particularly advantageous way compared to the adjacent longitudinal segment of the wiper blade.

[0007] According to a preferred embodiment, the first longitudinal segment is located in the inner circle of the wiper blade, whereas in a variant embodiment, the first longitudinal segment is located in the outer circle of the wiper blade. Preferably, the longitudinal segments extend practically from an area of ​​end caps to a central wiper blade adapter element, and are thus respectively opposed.

[0008] The wiper blade may further have at least one deflector element, a second deflector element, and at least one wiping lip, the nozzle elements preferably being formed in the deflector element. Preferably, the nozzle orifices are integrated by a laser into the deflector element, i.e., into a deflector element.

[0009] According to another embodiment, there are two wiper blades, each traversing a distinct cleaning zone, the cleaning zones having an overlap. Preferably, the first wiper blade traverses the inner circular zone and the second wiper blade an outer circular zone, the overlap zone being between the inner and outer circular zones. In the case of the present invention, the overlap zone is the area of ​​the windshield that is traversed during wiper operation by both the first and second wiper blades.

[0010] Preferably, the first longitudinal segment is formed on the first wiper blade or the second wiper blade. Preferably, the first longitudinal segment is formed in the inner circle of the wiper blade or in the outer circle of the wiper blade for these wiper blades.

[0011] According to an advantageous development of the invention, the longitudinal segments extend respectively preferably essentially from the area of ​​the end caps to a central element of the wiper blade adapter and are preferably respectively opposed.

[0012] A wiper blade of the type concerned here preferably has at least a first deflector element, a second deflector element and at least one wiping lip, the nozzle elements being made in the deflector element.

[0013] The accumulation of fluid in the overlap zone is reduced in a particularly simple way, especially if the first longitudinal segment is in the overlap zone. In this way, at least one of the wiper blades brings less fluid into the overlap zone, which reduces the accumulation of cleaning fluid in this area.

[0014] According to one feature, the first longitudinal segment has a reduced nozzle density beyond the overlap zone. This allows the forces acting on the fluid to be used to achieve a more even distribution of the windshield washer fluid.

[0015] Liquid accumulation in the overlap zone is reduced particularly effectively if the nozzle density in the first longitudinal segment is reduced by at least 20%, in particular 30%, and especially advantageously by 40%, compared to that of the second longitudinal segment. This simultaneously ensures the cleaning capacity of these areas.

[0016] We have a particularly regular cleaning result in particular because the nozzle elements are installed in a longitudinal segment, practically equidistant from each other. Brief description of the drawings

[0017] Examples of embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and will be described in more detail below. For example:

[0018] [Fig-1] Schematic representation of a windshield wiper blade of a wiper device ice,

[0019] [Fig.2a] another embodiment of the windshield wiper device,

[0020] [Fig.2b] another embodiment of the windshield wiper device,

[0021] [Fig.3a] another embodiment of the windshield wiper device,

[0022] [Fig.3b] another embodiment of the windshield wiper device.

[0023] DESCRIPTION OF THE IMPROVEMENT METHOD

[0024] In the different embodiment variants, the same elements bear the same references.

[0025] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a wiper blade 16 of a wiper device 10. The wiper blade 16 has a longitudinal direction L as its principal extension direction. In particular, the longitudinal direction L is practically parallel to the principal extension direction of the wiper blade. Preferably, the longitudinal direction L is at least practically perpendicular to a predefined wiping direction of the wiper blade 16. Preferably, the wiper blade 16 has end caps 42a, 42b which are in an area of ​​end caps 48a, 48b. Preferably, the wiper blade 16 has a wiper blade adapter 46. The wiper blade 16 has two deflector elements 50a, 50b. The deflector elements 50a, 50b preferably have several nozzle elements 100 respectively.The nozzle elements 100 are preferably laser-cut as nozzle orifices in the wiper blade 16, particularly in the deflector element 50a, 50b. The wiper blade 16 also has. preferably an elastic rail 17 and a wiping lip 19. The deflector elements 50a, 50b have fluid supply channels for nozzle elements 100.

[0026] As shown in [Fig. 1], the wiper blade has at least a first longitudinal segment 70a and a second longitudinal segment 70b. The first longitudinal segment 70a has a significantly lower nozzle density, i.e., it has fewer nozzle elements 100 for the longitudinal extension direction than the second longitudinal segment 70b. According to the embodiment of the invention shown in [Fig. 1], the first longitudinal segment 70a comprises only three nozzle elements 100, while the second longitudinal segment 70b has seven nozzle orifices distributed along the entire length of the deflector element 50b. The nozzle elements 100 of a deflector element 70a, 70b are respectively practically equidistant from each other.

[0027] The wiper blade 16 of [Fig. 1] may have a first wiper blade 16a for an inner circular area and a second wiper blade 16b for an outer circular area. Furthermore, the first longitudinal segment 70a is located either within the inner circle of the wiper blade or within an outer circle of the wiper blade for wiper blades 16a and 16b. These different embodiments are shown and described with reference to Figures 2a, 2b, 3a, and 3b.

[0028] Figures 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b show respective embodiments of a windshield wiper device 10 for cleaning a window 12. In Figures 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, the windshield wiper devices 10 are shown in a rest position. The windshield wiper devices 10 in Figures 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b have a first wiper blade 16a and a second wiper blade 16b. Each of the wiper blades 16a, 16b has a cleaning zone 20a, 20b of the window 12. The two cleaning zones 20a, 20b have an overlapping zone 22.

[0029] The first cleaning zone 20a is located in the driver's side region of the vehicle. The first wiper blade 16a is connected by a first wiper arm to a first pivot point; the first wiper blade 16a and the first wiper arm perform a pendulum motion in which the first cleaning zone 20a is traversed. The second wiper blade 16b wipes a second cleaning zone 20b of the window 12, which is at least partially overlapped by the first cleaning zone 20a.

[0030] The first cleaning zone 20a and the second cleaning zone 20b have at least one overlapping zone 22 in the central part of the windshield. Embodiments of the invention according to Figures 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b are designed to reduce the overlap of the quantities of windshield washer fluid and thus advantageously reduce their accumulation in the overlapping zone 22.

[0031] Figure 2a shows a first embodiment of the invention according to which the The first wiper blade 16a has two longitudinal segments 70b, 70b' having an equally distributed nozzle density. The second wiper blade 16 has a second longitudinal segment 70b which also has a nozzle distribution density that practically corresponds to the nozzle density of the two longitudinal segments of the first wiper blade 16a. The first wiper blade 16a has a first embodiment, a first longitudinal segment 70a which has a reduced nozzle density compared to that of the second longitudinal segment; this means that, depending on the longitudinal extension direction of the first longitudinal segment 70a, the distribution of the second wiper blade in the first longitudinal segment 70a comprises a significantly reduced number of nozzle elements 100 compared to the second longitudinal segment 70b.The first longitudinal segment 70a is thus in an inner circle of the wiper blade, i.e., a segment turned towards the center of rotation. According to the embodiment of the invention shown in [Fig. 2a], the first longitudinal segment 70a is in the coverage area of ​​the overlap zone 22.

[0032] The first wiper blade 16a, according to [Fig. 2a], has an embodiment for the two longitudinal segments 70b, 70b' with a regular nozzle density preferably between 5 and 10 nozzle elements 100 distributed over the segment's extension. In the event of a malfunction of the second wiper blade 16b, the first wiper blade 16a still provides the minimum cleaning capacity necessary for safe driving.

[0033] The second wiper blade 16b has an optimized nozzle configuration. The number of nozzle orifices or nozzle elements 100 on the inner circle of the wiper blade is lower than that on the outer circle of the wiper blade. The reduced number of nozzle elements 100 in the first longitudinal segment 70a means that the second wiper blade 16b applies less cleaning fluid to the overlap area 22b, so that the overlap area is supplied primarily with washer fluid from the first wiper blade 16a.

[0034] Figure 2b shows a second embodiment of the invention; in this embodiment the The first wiper blade 16a, as in the first embodiment of the invention, has two longitudinal segments 70b and 70b' respectively, having the same nozzle density. The second wiper blade 16b has a second longitudinal segment 70b which also has a nozzle distribution density that practically corresponds to the nozzle density of the two longitudinal segments of the first wiper blade 16a. According to the first embodiment, the second wiper blade 16b has a first longitudinal segment 70a with a reduced nozzle density compared to that of the second longitudinal segment; this means that in the direction of extension In the longitudinal section of the first longitudinal segment 70a, the second wiper blade has significantly fewer nozzle elements 100 in the first longitudinal segment 70a than in the second longitudinal segment 70b. The first longitudinal segment 70a is thus located within the outer circle of the wiper blade, i.e., the wiper blade segment 16b furthest from the point of rotation. According to the embodiment of [Fig. 2b] of the invention, the first longitudinal segment 70a lies beyond the coverage area of ​​the overlap zone 22.

[0035] The first wiper blade 16a, compared to the embodiment of the invention shown in [Fig. 2a], has a regular nozzle density preferably between 5 and 10 nozzle elements 100 distributed along the length of the segments in the case of the two longitudinal segments 70b, 70b'. In the event of a malfunction of the second wiper blade 16b, the first wiper blade 16a still provides the minimum cleaning power necessary for safe driving.

[0036] The second wiper blade 16b has an optimized nozzle configuration. The number of nozzle orifices or nozzle elements 100 on the outer wiper blade circle is smaller compared to the inner wiper blade circle. During wiping, the washer fluid from the second wiper blade 16b flows, due to rotational physics, towards the outer wiper blade circle. Since the amount of washer fluid in the outer wiper blade circuit is reduced by the first longitudinal segment 70a, which is located on the outer wiper blade circle, the washer fluid from the inner circle, i.e., the overlap zone 22, can advantageously escape into the outer wiper blade circuit; thus, the accumulation of fluid in the overlap zone 22 is advantageously reduced.

[0037] The first longitudinal segment of the various embodiments 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b preferably has a significantly reduced nozzle density compared to that of the first longitudinal segment 70b. The nozzle density in the first longitudinal segment 70a is reduced compared to that of the second longitudinal segment 70b, 70b' by at least 20%, preferably by at least 30%, and most preferably by at least 40%. The first longitudinal segment 70a preferably has only between 2 and 5 nozzle elements 100.

[0038] Figure 3a shows a first embodiment of the invention in which the second wiper blade 16b has two longitudinal segments 70b, 70b' respectively, having the same nozzle density. The first wiper blade 16a has a second longitudinal segment 70b which also has a nozzle distribution density that essentially corresponds to the nozzle density of the two longitudinal segments 70b, 70b' of the second wiper blade 16b. The first wiper blade 16a has, according to The third embodiment features a first longitudinal segment 70a with a reduced nozzle density compared to that of the second longitudinal segment 70b. This means that, along the longitudinal extension direction of the first longitudinal segment 70a, the first wiper blade 16a has a significantly lower distribution of nozzle elements 100 within the first longitudinal segment 70a than within the second longitudinal segment 70b. The first longitudinal segment 70a is thus located in the first outer circle of the wiper blade, i.e., in the wiper blade segment 16a furthest from the point of rotation. According to the embodiment of the invention shown in [Fig. 3a], the first longitudinal segment 70a is within the coverage area of ​​the overlap zone 22.

[0039] The second wiper blade 16b has, according to the embodiment of the invention in [Fig.3a], in the two longitudinal segments 70b, 70b', a regular nozzle density preferably between 5 and 10 nozzle elements 100 distributed over the length of the segments.

[0040] The first wiper blade 16b has an optimized nozzle configuration. The number of nozzle orifices or nozzle elements 100 on the outer circle of the wiper blade is lower compared to that on the inner circle of the wiper blade. The reduced number of nozzle elements 100 in the first longitudinal segment 70a means that the first wiper blade 16a delivers less washer fluid to the overlap area 22, so that this overlap area is primarily supplied by the second wiper blade 16b, which provides the washer fluid. This advantageously reduces the troublesome accumulation of excess washer fluid in the overlap area.

[0041] Figure 3b shows another embodiment of the invention in which the first wiper blade 16a has a first longitudinal segment 70a having a reduced nozzle density in the inner circle of the wiper blade. Due to rotational physics, the washer fluid flows from the first wiper blade 16a in the opposite direction to the outer circle of the wiper blade. Reducing the amount of washer fluid on the inner circle of the wiper blade advantageously results in less washer fluid flowing towards the outer circle of the first wiper blade 16a and thus into the overlap zone 22.

[0042] NOMENCLATURE OF MAIN ELEMENTS

[0043] 10 Windshield wiper device

[0044] 16 Windshield wiper blade

[0045] L Longitudinal direction

[0046] 42a, 42b End caps

[0047] 48a, 48b End cap area

[0048] 46 Wiper blade adapter 16

[0049]

[0050]

[0051]

[0052]

[0053]

[0054]

[0055]

[0056]

[0057]

[0058]

[0059]

[0060] 50a, 50b Deflector elements 17 Elastic rail 19 Wiper lip 70a First longitudinal segment 70b Second longitudinal segment 100 Nozzle elements 12 Windscreen 16a First wiper blade 16b Second wiper blade 20a First cleaning zone 20b Second cleaning zone 22 Overlap zone

Claims

Demands

1. A windshield wiper device (10) for cleaning a vehicle window (12) comprising at least one wiper blade (16a, 16b) extending between a longitudinal extension direction (L) and a set of nozzle elements (100) for applying a liquid (24), in particular windshield washer fluid, to the window (12), the nozzle elements (100) being distributed on the wiper blade (16a, 16b) along the longitudinal extension direction (L), and the wiper blade (16a, 16b) having at least one first longitudinal segment (70a) and at least one second longitudinal segment (70b), in the first longitudinal segment (70a), the nozzle density relative to the longitudinal extension direction is lower than that of the second longitudinal segment (70b) of the same wiper blade (16a, 16b), the wiper device being characterized in that at least one second wiper blade (16a, 16b) has two longitudinal segments (70b,70b') having nozzle densities greater than that of the first longitudinal segment (70a) of the first wiper blade (16a, 16b).

2. Wiper device (10) according to claim 1, characterized by at least a first wiper blade (16a) and a second wiper blade (16b) * the first wiper blade (16a) in operation covers a first cleaning zone (20a) and * the second wiper blade (16b) in operation covers a second cleaning zone (20b), - the cleaning zones (20a, 20b) in an overlapping zone (22) preferably have at least one wiper blade (16a, 16b) offering a lower nozzle density in a first longitudinal segment (70a).

3. Wiper device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first longitudinal segment (70a) is in an inner circle of the first wiper blade (16a, 16b) and / or the second wiper blade (16a, 16b).

4. Wiper device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first longitudinal segment (70a) is in the outer circle of the first wiper blade (16a, 16b) and / or the second wiper blade (16a, 16b).

5. Wiper device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the longitudinal segments (70a, 70b, 70b') are preferably respectively essentially in an area extending from the end caps (48a, 48b) to a central wiper blade adapter element (46) and preferably each time opposite the respective wiper blade (16a, 16b).

6. Wiper device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a wiper blade (16a, 16b) has at least one first deflector element (50a), a second deflector element (50b) and at least one wiping lip (19), the nozzle elements (100) are preferably in the first and in the second deflector element (50a, 50b).

7. Wiper device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first longitudinal segment (70a) is in the region of the overlap zone (22).

8. Wiper device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first longitudinal segment (70a) is beyond the overlap zone (22).

9. Wiper device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nozzle density in the first longitudinal segment (70a) is reduced by at least 20, in particular 30 and particularly advantageously at least 40% compared to the second longitudinal segment (70b, 70b').

10. Wiper device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nozzle elements (100) of a longitudinal segment (70a, 70b, 70b') are practically equidistant from each other.

11. Wiper blade (16a, 16b) for a wiper device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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