Support for electrical group for actuating a vehicle wiping system

Abstract

The invention relates to a support (100) for an electrical actuation unit (200) of a motor vehicle wiping system, comprising a plate (110) comprising a central part (111) designed to fixedly receive said electrical actuation unit (200) as well as several arm-shaped protrusions (113) distributed around said central part (111) and intended to ensure the mechanical connection between said support (100) and at least one element of the body structure of said vehicle; characterized in that said support (100) also comprises at least one attachment clip (130) comprising a head (131) carrying holding means capable of gripping an electrical power supply harness (F) of said electrical actuation unit (200), as well as a U-shaped anchoring bracket (133) mounted overlapping on a rib (119) formed on said plate (110). Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Support for an electrical group for actuating a vehicle wiping system Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of wiping systems for motor vehicle windows. It relates in particular to a support for an electrical unit for actuating such a wiping system. Prior art

[0002] Wiping systems are well known in the prior art and make it possible to wipe a window of a motor vehicle such as its front windshield or its rear window in the event of rain or snowfall in order to preserve a good view of the surroundings for the driver.

[0003] Such a wiping system conventionally comprises at least one arm, a first end of which carries a blade provided with a flexible wiping blade intended to sweep the surface of the vehicle's window to remove water outside the driver's field of vision, and the second end of which is coupled to a rotating shaft of a drive subassembly fixedly mounted on the body structure of this vehicle.

[0004] In the case of wiping systems comprising two arms spaced apart from each other and operating simultaneously, such as for example those intended to ensure the cleaning of front windshields, it is well known, for example from document FR 3 021 272 A1, to ensure the back-and-forth movement of the two arms by a drive subassembly comprising a single electric motor associated with a linkage mechanism connecting the axis of the motor to the rotating shafts of the arms as well as a generally tubular structure on which the motor and bearings for guiding the rotation of the rotating shafts are fixed.

[0005] Generally installed at the foot of the front windshield of the vehicle in an area commonly called the "windshield bay", these drive sub-assemblies are fixed to at least one element of the body structure of the vehicle by means of lugs integral with the tubular structure.

[0006] Responsible for transforming the constant rotational movement of the motor shaft into two back-and-forth movements of the arms, the linkage mechanism of these drive sub-assemblies includes numerous parts and joints which increase the risk of breakdowns causing breakdowns and increasing costs.

[0007] In order to overcome this problem, it is known to ensure the drive of the two arms to use two separate drive sub-assemblies, each comprising an electrical drive group mounted on a support.

[0008] As described for example by document FR 2 965 232 A1, such a support conventionally comprises a plate comprising a central part designed to fixedly receive said electrical actuation group as well as several arm-shaped protrusions distributed around said central part and intended to ensure the mechanical connection between said support and at least one element of the body structure of said vehicle.

[0009] The electrical actuating group of such a drive subassembly is provided with a power supply connector to which is intended to be connected a complementary connector provided at one end of an electrical power supply harness coming from the passenger compartment and connected to an electrical power source of the vehicle such as the low voltage service battery of this vehicle.

[0010] When the electrical power supply harness from the passenger compartment is located above the connector of the electrical drive unit, the path of this harness may cause water droplets to flow along it by capillarity and penetrate into this connector, so as to potentially generate oxidation and / or short circuits detrimental to the proper functioning of the wiping system. Statement of the invention

[0011] The present invention aims to improve the situation.

[0012] To this end, it proposes a support for an electrical actuating unit for a motor vehicle wiping system, comprising a plate comprising a central part designed to fixedly receive said electrical actuating unit as well as several arm-shaped protrusions distributed around said central part and intended to ensure the mechanical connection between said support and at least one element of the body structure of said vehicle; characterized in that said support also comprises at least one attachment clip comprising a head carrying holding means capable of gripping an electrical power supply harness of said electrical actuating group, as well as a U-shaped anchoring bracket mounted overlapping a rib provided on said plate.

[0013] The presence of this attachment clip makes it possible to "break" the continuity of the slope of the electrical power supply harness of the electrical actuation group so as to prevent water droplets flowing along the part of this harness located above and upstream of this clip from continuing their path by capillarity to the power supply connector.

[0014] According to preferred characteristics of said support according to the invention: - at least one of the two faces of said rib has two protuberances of lateral guides delimiting on this rib a reception area for said attachment clip; - said reception zone has a thickness different from that of the rest of said rib; - said rib extends substantially vertically below said central part of the plate; - said rib has a triangular shape, being supported by two of its adjacent sides respectively by said central part and by one of said protrusions of the plate; - said attachment clip is of the metal-plastic type; - said anchoring bracket of the attachment clip comprises a metal insert provided with two series of retaining claws projecting inside the U from its two branches and engaging on the two faces of said rib; - said holding means consist of a self-locking clamp; and / or - the said plate is cast from a single piece in a metal alloy.

[0015] The invention also relates, in a second aspect, to a drive subassembly for a wiping system for a motor vehicle window comprising such a support and an electrical actuation group fixedly attached against the central part of the plate of said support. Brief description of the drawings

[0016] The description of the invention will now be continued by the detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, given below for illustrative but non-limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: - [Fig.l] represents an elevation view of a drive subassembly for a motor vehicle wiping system comprising a support for an electrical actuation group according to the invention; - [Fig.2] is a partial perspective view of the support according to the invention on which the part located to the right of the section plane ILII of [Fig.l] has been torn away; - [Fig.3] represents a perspective view of the plate alone of the support according to the invention; and - [Fig.4] is a partial enlarged view of the area where the power harness attachment clip is located on the plate of [Fig.3]. Description of the embodiments

[0017] [Fig.l] illustrates a drive subassembly 1 for a wiping system intended to be fixedly mounted on at least one element (not shown) of the body structure of a motor vehicle at the lower edge of the windshield of this vehicle. to drive the wiper blade(s) of this wiping system.

[0018] In the description which follows and by convention, when reference is made to qualifiers of orientation (such as the term "vertical") or position (such as the terms "upper", "lower", "high" or "low"), the latter will be defined in relation to the normal mounting position of this drive subassembly 1 in a vehicle.

[0019] As illustrated by this [Fig.l], the drive subassembly 1 comprises a support 100 shown alone in [Fig.2] and comprising a plate 110 advantageously molded in a single piece from a metal alloy, for example based on aluminum. This drive subassembly 1 also comprises an electrical actuation group 200 fixedly carried by the plate 110 of this support 100.

[0020] Shown alone in [Fig. 3], the plate 110 comprises a substantially flat central part 111 against the lower face of which the electrical actuation group 200 is fixedly attached, as well as several arm-shaped protrusions 112, 113 distributed around this central part 111.

[0021] In this case, there are two of these protrusions 112, 113, which are intended to provide the mechanical connection between the support 100 and at least one element of the body structure to which this support 100 must be fixed.

[0022] Each protrusion 112, 113 comprises a proximal portion 112A, 113A extending from the central part 111 along a mean plane inclined with respect to that of this central part 111, and extending by a distal free end portion 112B, 113B extending here along a mean plane substantially parallel to that of this same central part 111.

[0023] The free end portion 112B, 113B of each of these protrusions 112, 113 has a circular orifice 114 receiving a damping pad 120 (see [Fig.l]), also known under the name “Silentbloc”, and intended to attenuate the transmission of vibrations between the support 100 and the body structure of the vehicle.

[0024] Each damping pad 120 comprises a substantially cylindrical body made of an elastically deformable material such as an elastomer, for example natural rubber or EPDM (“Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer”), and having an axial bore intended to receive a fixing member O such as a screw or a stud. The outer lateral face of this body is further provided with an annular transverse groove, not visible, received by the periphery of a corresponding circular orifice 114 of the plate 110, so as to ensure the maintenance of the pad 120 relative to this plate 110 in the axial direction.

[0025] As illustrated by [Fig. 3] and in order to mechanically secure in an isostatic and removable manner the electrical actuation group 200 to the support 100, the plate 110 comprises fixing means constituted in this case by several holes 115 arranged in its central part 111 and designed to be each crossed by a respective screw which is then screwed into a corresponding tapped hole arranged in this electrical actuation group 200.

[0026] According to alternative embodiments not shown, the isostatic fixing means of the electrical actuation group 200 to the support 100 may be of a different type.

[0027] Presented in the form of a single housing, the electrical actuation group 200 comprises an electric motor 210, for example of the direct current type, a reduction device 220, as well as a control device 230 managing the operation of this motor 210.

[0028] The reduction device 220 makes it possible to transmit, via gear means (for example bevel gear or toothed wheel and worm screw), the rotational movement of the axis of the electric motor 210 to a rotary drive shaft 240 oriented perpendicularly relative to the shaft of this electric motor 210 and on which a first end of a wiping arm (not shown) of a wiping system is intended to be directly fixed.

[0029] The free end of this rotary drive shaft 240 has a threaded cylindrical section 241 onto which this first end of a wiping arm is intended to be screwed, as well as a frustoconical section 242 extending just below this threaded section 241 and provided with grooves or striations making it possible to guarantee the absence of relative movement between this rotary drive shaft 240 and this wiping arm.

[0030] In the case of a wiping system comprising two arms spaced apart from each other and operating simultaneously, such as for example those intended to ensure the cleaning of the front windshield, the control device 230 will be in electrical communication with that managing the operation of the electric motor of the drive mechanism of the second arm of this wiping system so that the movement of these two arms is carried out in a synchronized manner.

[0031] As illustrated by [Fig. 3], the central part 111 of the plate 110 has a passage window 116 crossed by the rotary drive shaft 240, by a tab 243 projecting radially from the base of the rotary drive shaft 240 with which it is integral in rotation, as well as by a portion of the reduction device 220.

[0032] On the periphery of this passage window 116, the plate 110 also comprises a stop with an arc-shaped section 117 extending in projection from the upper face of its central part 111 and the two lateral edges of which are intended to cooperate in abutment with the tab 243 so as to define the two extreme positions that a wiping arm fixed on the rotary drive shaft 240 can adopt during its back-and-forth movement.

[0033] In order to improve its mechanical rigidity, the plate 110 advantageously comprises a fallen edge 118 extending upwards along the peripheral edge of its central part 111 and its protrusions 112, 113.

[0034] As illustrated by [Fig. 1], the electrical actuation group 200 is provided with a power supply connector 250 to which is intended to be connected a complementary connector C provided at one end of an electrical power supply harness F coming from the passenger compartment and connected to an electrical power source of the vehicle (not shown), such as the low-voltage service battery of this vehicle.

[0035] Running above the power supply connector 250 of the electrical drive unit 200, the presence of this electrical power supply harness F could cause water droplets to flow along it by capillarity and penetrate into this power supply connector 250.

[0036] In order to overcome this eventuality and with reference to [Fig. 2], the support 100 also comprises at least one attachment clip 130 comprising a head 131 carrying holding means 132 capable of gripping this supply beam F, as well as a U-shaped anchoring stirrup 133 mounted overlapping on a rib 119 formed on the plate 110 and extending substantially vertically below its central part 111.

[0037] As is clearly visible in [Fig. 2], the presence of this attachment clip 130 makes it possible to “break” the continuity of the slope of the bundle F so as to prevent the water droplets flowing along the part of this bundle F located above and upstream of this clip 130 from continuing their path by capillarity to the power supply connector 250.

[0038] As is clearly visible in [Fig. 4] and in order to ensure optimal positioning of the attachment clip 130 guaranteeing that this power connector 250 is not reached by water droplets coming from the bundle F, at least one of the two faces of the rib 119 advantageously has two lateral guide protuberances 119A, 119B delimiting on this rib 119 a reception zone Za for this attachment clip 130.

[0039] Still with reference to [Fig. 4], it will be noted that the thickness of this receiving zone Za of the rib 119 may differ from that of the rest of this rib 119 in order to adapt as best as possible to the spacing between the branches of the anchoring stirrup 133 of the clip 130. This thickness of the receiving zone Za, which is in this case less than that of the rest of this rib 118, may thus be easily adjusted by removing or adding material in the mold used to manufacture the plate 110.

[0040] As illustrated by [Fig. 1], the rib 119 advantageously has a triangular shape, being supported by two of its adjacent sides respectively by the central part 111 of this plate and by one 113 of its arm-shaped protrusions, so as to reinforce the mechanical resistance to torsion of this outgrowth 113.

[0041] In order to ensure excellent anchoring of the attachment clip 130 and to limit the risks of the latter being torn off, this clip 130 is advantageously of the metal-plastic type.

[0042] Its anchoring stirrup 133 can thus, for example, comprise a metal insert provided with two series of retaining claws projecting inside the U from its two branches and engaging on the two faces of the rib 119.

[0043] The holding means are in this case constituted by a self-locking clamp 132 comprising for example a strap as well as a clamping member surmounting the anchoring stirrup 133 and being connected to one of the ends of the strap, this clamping member having a passage opening capable of receiving the free end of this same strap.

[0044] According to alternative embodiments not shown, the holding means may be of a different type. The latter may for example consist of a collar formed by two symmetrical arches of generally semi-circular shape, connected to each other by one of their ends by means of an elastically deformable articulation hinge allowing them to be separated and then brought together so as to ensure the closure of the collar. These two arches also comprise at their ends opposite the articulation hinge locking means capable of cooperating together to ensure the collar is held in the closed clamping position.

[0045] These holding means may also consist of an elastically deformable lyre-shaped flange, the two free ends of which, separated by a slot, are curved so as to form a V, facilitating the insertion of the elongated element.

[0046] According to alternative embodiments not shown, the holding means could be removably mounted on the head of this staple via complementary assembly means.

[0047] According to other embodiment variants not shown, the drive subassembly according to the invention could also be mounted on the lower edge of the rear window of a vehicle to drive the wiper blade of the wiping system of this rear window.

[0048] Numerous variants are conceivable and it is recalled in this regard that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but also encompasses all the variants of execution within the reach of those skilled in the art.

Claims

Claims

1. Support (100) for an electrical actuation group (200) of a motor vehicle wiping system, comprising a plate (110) comprising a central part (111) provided to fixedly receive said electrical actuation group (200) as well as several arm-shaped protrusions (112, 113) distributed around said central part (111) and intended to ensure the mechanical connection between said support (100) and at least one element of the body structure of said vehicle; characterized in that said support (100) also comprises at least one attachment clip (130) comprising a head (131) carrying holding means (132) capable of gripping an electrical power supply harness (F) of said electrical actuating group (200), as well as a U-shaped anchoring bracket (133) mounted overlapping a rib (119) provided on said plate (110).

2. Support (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the two faces of said rib (119) has two lateral guide protrusions (119A, 119B) delimiting on this rib a reception zone (Za) for said attachment clip (130).

3. Support (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that said receiving zone (Za) has a thickness different from that of the rest of said rib (119).

4. Support (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said rib (119) extends substantially vertically below said central part (111) of the plate (110).

5. Support (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said rib (119) has a triangular shape while being supported by two of its adjacent sides respectively by said central part (111) and by one (113) of said protrusions (112, 113) of the plate (110).

6. Support (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said attachment clip (130) is of the metal-plastic type.

7. Support (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that said anchoring stirrup (133) of the attachment clip (130) comprises a metal insert provided with two series of retaining claws projecting inside the U from its two branches and engaging on the two faces of said rib (119).

8. Support (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said holding means consist of a self-locking clamp (132).

9. Support (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said plate (110) is molded in a single piece from a metal alloy.

10. Drive subassembly (1) for a motor vehicle window wiping system comprising a support (100) according to one of claims 1 to 9 and an electrical actuation group (200) fixedly attached against the central part (111) of the plate (110) of said support (100).

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