Wiper motor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wiper motor (10) having a gearbox housing (12) with a preferably pot-shaped body (16) for forming an accommodation space (22) for a gear mechanism, an opening (18) in the body (16) can be closed by a gearbox cover (20), and a number of latch connections (30, 31, 32) acting in a joining direction (28) between the body (16) and the gearbox cover (20) are formed between the body (16) and the gearbox cover (20). the gearbox housing (12) includes first latch elements (36, 37, 58) each being elastically deformable and second latch elements (49, 50, 60) interacting with the first latch elements (36, 37, 58) in a form-fitting manner, and centering means (55) are provided on the gearbox housing (12) for play-free positioning of the gearbox cover (20) relative to the body (16) in a rotational angle position extending perpendicularly to the joining direction (28) between the body (16) and the gearbox cover (20).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wiper motor that serves as a component for cleaning the glass of a vehicle. In particular, the present invention relates to a configuration of a wiper motor that, in contrast to the prior art, enables a simpler structure and attachment of a gearbox cover to a gearbox housing of the wiper motor.

Background Art

[0002] A wiper motor having the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known in practice. Such a wiper motor is distinguished by a gearbox housing with a pot-shaped body whose opening can be closed by a gearbox cover to protect the gear mechanism arranged within the gearbox housing from the ingress of media or dirt.

[0003] In this context, it is already known that in order to avoid screw connections or to reduce the number of components and simplify the mounting process, a plurality of latch connections formed when axially joining the gearbox cover to the body of the gearbox housing can be provided between the body of the gearbox housing and the gearbox cover. Furthermore, it is essential here that the gearbox cover is arranged at a specific rotational angle position relative to the longitudinal axis of the gearbox housing, which is customarily aligned with the output shaft of the gear mechanism arranged in the gearbox housing. This rotational angle position should, in particular, also enable a play-free arrangement of the gearbox cover on the gearbox housing with respect to the circumferential direction centered on the longitudinal axis. For this purpose, known wiper motors comprise centering means consisting of at least one centering pin on the gearbox cover that interacts with a centering opening in an extension on the gearbox housing in addition to the latch connections. Thus, these centering means, in addition to the latch connections, constitute additional components or elements that require additional installation space and material requirements for the body of the gearbox housing and the gearbox cover. [Overview of the project]

[0004] The wiper motor according to the present invention having the features of claim 1 has the advantage that the centering means does not require any additional installation space or additional material requirements for the gearbox housing and separate components to form the centering means. The underlying idea of ​​the present invention is to form the centering means as an integral component of the latch connection, more precisely in combination with a specific arrangement of the latch connection on the gearbox housing.

[0005] Specifically, in order to achieve the aforementioned advantages, the teachings of the present invention propose that the wiper motor is configured such that the centering means is formed by two latching connections, and the centering means of each of the two latching connections is in either case formed by a first support surface on a first latching element and a second support surface on a second latching element, and the first support surface and the second support surface are in contact with each other when viewed in the circumferential direction about the longitudinal axis of the gearbox housing in the joined state between the body of the gearbox housing and the housing cover, and the first support surface and the second support surface are in either case positioned on the same side as the first latching element and the second latching element when viewed with respect to the rotational direction about the longitudinal axis.

[0006] In particular, the aforementioned features regarding the geometric assignment of the support surface on the latch element ensure that the gearbox cover is positioned relative to the body of the gearbox housing so that there is no rotational angular play with respect to the longitudinal axis of the gearbox housing.

[0007] An advantageous development of the wiper motor according to the present invention is described in the dependent claims.

[0008] To optimize the degree of freedom of rotational angle play provided by the centering mechanism, it is advantageous for the two latch connection parts that form the centering mechanism to be positioned in opposing regions, that is, to be offset from each other by approximately 180° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the gearbox housing that extends parallel to the joining direction between the gearbox cover and the main body of the gearbox housing.

[0009] To increase the rigidity or strength of the elastically deformable latch elements and to achieve deformation of the first latch element occurring in only one direction during the joining operation, the first latch elements further comprise two webs connected to each other by cross webs, which define a preferably rectangular notch from which the second latch element protrudes in the joined state of the gearbox housing.

[0010] Furthermore, the above configuration is particularly advantageous for the joining operation if the first support surface is designed to extend outward from the notch so as to form a guide surface. As a result, the guiding and centering of the latch elements of the centering means relative to each other is already performed during the axial joining of the gearbox housing.

[0011] To form a latch connection with a limited mounting force in the joining direction without risking damage to the latch element during the mounting operation, it is advantageous for the second latch element to further have a run-on slope that the first latch element contacts during the joining operation of the gearbox housing, causing the latch element to undergo elastic deformation. As a result, continuous (elastic) deformation of the first latch element occurs without peaks in force or stress.

[0012] Further improvement in the centering between the gearbox housing body and the gearbox cover with respect to the longitudinal axis, in the case of a guide surface designed to extend outward from the notch, is achieved when the guide surface has a lateral bevel for interacting with a second support surface on the second latch element.

[0013] To form a secure and reliable sealing connection between the (pot-shaped) body and the gearbox cover of the gearbox housing when viewed around the entire circumference, it is even more preferable to provide at least one additional latch connection between the body and the gearbox cover, wherein the at least one additional latch connection has rotational angular play with respect to a plane extending perpendicular to the joining direction when the gearbox housing is joined. In other words, this means that the at least one additional latch connection serves only to fix and brace the gearbox cover axially, rather than serving to ensure a rotational angular play-free position of the gearbox cover on the body of the gearbox housing. This also avoids a situation where a geometrically overly determined geometric shape is formed between the body and the gearbox cover, which can in some cases only be compensated for by high-precision manufacturing of the latch elements on the body and gearbox cover of the gearbox housing.

[0014] In particular, given that the gearbox cover is formed from plastic, it is advantageous if the first latch element is positioned on the gearbox cover and the second latch element is positioned on the main body.

[0015] A more preferred geometric configuration allows the notch to have a first width on the first latch element that is greater than the second width of the second latch element, and as a result, in the joined state of the gearbox housing, a gap is formed between the notch in the first latch element and the second latch element on the side facing outward from the support surface.

[0016] Further advantages, features, and details of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings of preferred embodiments of the invention. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This is a bottom view of the wiper motor. [Figure 2]Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the operation of joining the gearbox cover to the gearbox housing of the wiper motor. [Figure 3] This figure shows a portion of the wiper motor with the gearbox housing attached. [Figure 4] This is a side view of the first latch connection portion for forming a centering means between the gearbox cover and the gearbox housing. [Figure 5] This is a side view of the second latch connection between the gearbox cover and the gearbox housing, which serves to fix the gearbox cover in the axial direction. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] Elements that are identical or have the same function are indicated by the same reference number in the figure.

[0019] Figure 1 shows a wiper motor 10 as a component of a wiper device (not shown) for cleaning the glass of a vehicle. Here, the wiper motor 10 acts indirectly via a wiper link or directly on a wiper arm, on which a wiper blade for cleaning the glass of a vehicle is positioned or fastened.

[0020] The wiper motor 10 comprises a gearbox housing 12 to which an electric motor is flange-connected to its motor housing 14. The gearbox housing 12 consists of at least two parts, namely a first part, a preferably pot-shaped body 16, the opening 18 of which can be closed by a second part, a gearbox cover 20. In the joined state, the gearbox housing 12 forms a closed housing space 22 for receiving a gear mechanism (not shown in detail) that acts on an output shaft 24 (Figure 2) which is at least indirectly connected to a wiper arm or wiper blade. The output shaft 24 simultaneously forms a longitudinal axis 26 on the gearbox housing 12, and the joining direction 28 extends parallel to or aligned with the longitudinal axis 26 when the gearbox cover 20 is mounted to the body 16. The longitudinal axis 26 and the joining direction 28 extend perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in Figure 1.

[0021] Along the outer circumference of the gearbox housing 12, as shown in Figure 1, two first latching connections 30, 31 and, as an example, three second or further latching connections 32 are formed or arranged. Furthermore, the two first latching connections 30, 31 are arranged in opposing rotational angle regions 33, 34 on the gearbox housing 12, i.e., offset from each other by approximately 180° when viewed along the longitudinal axis 26.

[0022] The two first latch connectors 30, 31 serve to position or align the gearbox cover 20 with respect to the body 16 without play in the circumferential direction, extending concentrically around the longitudinal axis 26, i.e., to avoid rotational angle play around the longitudinal axis 26. Furthermore, the two first latch connectors 30, 31 also serve to fix the gearbox cover 20 on the body 16 in the axial direction, i.e., in the direction of the longitudinal axis 26. In contrast, the three second latch connectors 32 serve only to fix the gearbox cover 20 on the body 16 in the axial direction, and as a result, if the first latch connectors 32 are not present or formed, rotational angle play around the longitudinal axis 26 may occur at the second latch connectors 30.

[0023] The two first, preferably identically formed, latch connections 30, 31 each comprise a first latch element 36, 37 arranged on the gearbox cover 20. Here, the first latch elements 36, 37 are integrally or monolithically formed on the gearbox cover 20 which is made of plastic and takes the form of an injection-molded part. The first latch elements 36, 37 are arranged on the gearbox cover 20 so as to be elastically deformable in a direction extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 26 and, in an exemplary embodiment, each comprise two webs 38, 39 having a rectangular cross-section and extending parallel to each other. On the side facing outward from the gearbox cover 20, the two webs 38, 39 are connected to each other by a cross-web 41. The two webs 38, 39 together with the cross-web 41 and the gearbox cover 20 define a rectangular notch 42 having an inner width B.

[0024] One of the webs 38 is designed to be longer on the outside of the notch 42 on the side facing the notch 42 and facing outward from the gearbox cover 20 so as to form a guide surface 44. Furthermore, the guide surface 44 transitions into a bevel 46 arranged at an angle α. Here, the bevel 46 is located on the side facing the web 39. Inside the notch 42, the web 38 of the first latch elements 36, 37 forms a first support surface 48 extending parallel to and aligned with the guide surface 44.

[0025] According to the figures of FIGS. 3 and 4, with the first latch connections 30, 31 formed, the second latch elements 49, 50 of the first latch connections 30, 31 are received within the notch 42. The second latch elements 49, 50 integrally formed or realized on the body 16 comprise a ramp gradient 51 extending obliquely. Furthermore, the second latch elements 49, 50 have an outer width b which is smaller than the inner width B of the notch 42. On the side facing the first support surface 48, the second latch elements 49, 50 have a second support surface 52 which interacts with the first support surface 48.

[0026] The first latch elements 36, 37, together with the second latch elements 49, 50, form a centering means 55 for avoiding rotational angular play about the longitudinal axis 26, the centering means 55 being formed in either case by a first support surface 48 on the first latch elements 36, 37 and a second support surface 52 on the second latch elements 49, 50 that interacts with the first support surface 48.

[0027] Furthermore, with the gearbox housing 12 joined, that is, with the first latch connection portions 30, 31 formed, the first support surface 48 and the second support surface 52 are positioned on the gearbox housing 12 in bearing contact or without play on the mutually opposing sides of the first latch elements 36, 37 and the second latch elements 49, 50, and it is essential that the first support surface 48 and the second support surface 52 are positioned on the same side of the first latch elements 36, 37 and the second latch elements 49, 50 in any case when viewed with respect to the rotational direction about the longitudinal axis 26, indicated by arrow 64 in Figure 1, for example, extending in a clockwise direction. Furthermore, a gap 53 (Figure 4) is formed between the first latch elements 36, 37 and the second latch elements 49, 50 on the side facing outward from the support surfaces 48, 52. As a result of this arrangement, the gearbox cover 12 is positioned without rotational play relative to the main body 16 and without play in the circumferential direction around the longitudinal axis 26. The arrangement of the first support surface 48 relative to the second support surface 52 on the two first latch connections 30, 31 is shown in Figure 1 by planes 56, 57.

[0028] In contrast to the two first latch connections 30, 31, if, for example, three second latch connections 32 are formed, each comprising an elastically deformable first latch element 58 on the gearbox cover 20 and a (rigid) second latch element 60 on the body 16 in a manner similar to the first latch connections 30, 31, then the second latch connections 32 are formed between each of the latch elements 58 and 60, and in each case, viewed longitudinally, there is a gap 61, 62 in the region of the notch 63 (Figure 5), i.e., rotational angle play about the longitudinal axis 26.

[0029] During the operation of joining the gearbox cover 20 to the main body 16 of the gearbox housing 12, the latch connection portions 30, 31, and 32 are oriented relative to each other with respect to the longitudinal axis 26, i.e., they are in aligned rotational angular positions. Next, for example, the gearbox cover 20 is moved toward the main body 16 in the joining direction 28.

[0030] The first thing that happens here is that, where appropriate, the bevels 46 of the two first latch elements 31, 32 come into contact with the support surfaces 52 of the second latch elements 49, 50 for centering between the gearbox cover 20 and the body 16. The cross web 41 then operably connects with the run-on slope 51 of the second latch elements 49, 50, resulting in the first latch elements 36, 37 elastically deforming in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 26. When the gearbox cover 20 reaches its axial end position with respect to the longitudinal axis 26, the latch connections 30, 31, and 32 are formed by the first latch elements 36, 37, and 58 entering the notches 42 and 63, thereby securing the gearbox cover 20 on the body 16.

[0031] The wiper motor 10 described above can be modified or altered in a wide variety of ways without departing from the concept of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 10 Wiper motor 12 Gearbox Housing 14 Motor Housing 16 Main unit 18 Opening 20 Gearbox Cover 22 Containment space 24 output shafts 26 Longitudinal axis 28 Joining direction 30 First latch connection 31 First latch connection 32 Second latch connection 33 Rotation Angle Region 34 Rotation angle range 36 First latch element 37 First latch element 38 Web 39 Web 41 Crossweb 42 Notches 44 Guide surface 46 Bevel 48 Support surface 49 Second latch element 50 Second latch element 51 Runon gradient 52 Support surface 53 Gap 55 Centering means 56 plane 57 plane 58 Latch elements 60 latch elements 61 Gap 62 Gap 63 Notches 64 Arrows B Inner width b Outside width α angle

Claims

1. A wiper motor (10) having a gearbox housing (12) comprising a preferably pot-shaped body (16) for forming a housing space (22) for a gear mechanism, wherein an opening (18) in the body (16) can be closed by a gearbox cover (20), and a plurality of latching connections (30, 31, 32) acting in the joining direction (28) between the body (16) and the gearbox cover (20) are connected between the body (16) and the gearbox cover (2 The centering means (55) is provided on the gearbox housing (12) for positioning the gearbox cover (20) with respect to the main body (16) with respect to the longitudinal axis (26) of the gearbox housing (12) without rotational play. The centering means (55) is formed on two latch connection portions (30, 31), and the centering means (55) on each of the two latch connection portions (30, 31) is in any case formed by a first support surface (48) on the first latch element (36, 37) and a second support surface (52) on the second latch element (49, 50), the first support surface (48) and the second support surface (52) abut against each other in a joined state between the body (16) and the gearbox cover (20) with no play, and the first support surface (48) and the second support surface (52) are in any case positioned on the same side of the first latch element (36, 37) and the second latch element (49, 50) when viewed with respect to the rotational direction about the longitudinal axis (26). The first latch element (36, 37) comprises two webs (38, 39) connected to each other by a cross web (41), the two webs (38, 39) define a preferably rectangular notch (42) from which the second latch element (49, 50) protrudes when joined to the gearbox housing (12). The first support surface (48) is designed to extend outward from the notch (42) so as to form a guide surface (44) that guides the second latch elements (49, 50). Wiper motor.

2. The latch connection portions (30, 31), which play a role in forming the centering means (55), are arranged in a rotational angle region (33, 34) that extends parallel to the joining direction (28) and faces the longitudinal axis (26) of the gearbox housing (12). Characterized by, The wiper motor according to claim 1.

3. The second latch elements (49, 50) have a run-on gradient (51) that is elastically deformed when the first latch elements (36, 37) come into contact with them during the joining operation of the gearbox housing (12). Characterized by, The wiper motor according to claim 1.

4. The guide surface (44) is provided with a lateral bevel (46) for interacting with the second support surface (52) on the second latch element (49, 50). Characterized by, The wiper motor according to claim 1.

5. At least one additional latch connection portion (32) is provided between the main body (16) and the gearbox cover (20), and the at least one additional latch connection portion (32) has rotational angle play with respect to a plane extending perpendicular to the joining direction (28) in the joined state of the gearbox housing (12). Characterized by, A wiper motor according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The first latch elements (36, 37) are positioned on the gearbox cover (20), and the second latch elements (49, 50) are positioned on the main body (16). Characterized by, A wiper motor according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The gearbox cover (20) is made of plastic. Characterized by, A wiper motor according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The notch (42) has a first width (B) that is greater than the second width (b) of the second latch elements (49, 50) within the notch (42), and as a result, in the joined state of the gearbox housing (12), a gap (53) is formed between the notch (42) on the side away from the support surfaces (48, 52) and the second latch elements (49, 50). Characterized by, A wiper motor according to any one of claims 3 to 7.

Images