Wiper rubber, especially cooling wiper rubber for wiper blades.

Abstract

To avoid excessively strong heating of a material of a wiper rubber, and extend the life of the wiper rubber and time of an exchange interval.SOLUTION: There are provided a wiper rubber 10 having a mounting part 18, especially, a wiper rubber 10 for a wiper blade 12 of a window glass wiper capable of being cooled, wherein the wiper rubber 10 includes a cooling part, the cooling part includes a passage system, the passage system extends in a longitudinal direction in the wiper rubber 10 and allows a cooling medium circulating in a circulation passage 30 to be supplied into the passage system, or the cooling part includes at least one Peltier element, the Peltier element is introduced into the material of the wiper rubber 10. The wiper rubber 10 includes a cover for reflecting radiation heat at a standby position of the window glass wiper. There is also provided use of a wiper rubber 10 in a window glass wiper, especially, a front window glass wiper or a rear window glass wiper of a vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wiper rubber provided with an attachment portion, particularly a cooling-capable wiper rubber for a wiper blade of a windshield wiper. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a windshield wiper and the use of a wiper rubber in a windshield wiper, particularly a front windshield wiper or a rear windshield wiper of a vehicle.

[0002] Prior Art International Publication No. 2020104632 relates to a particularly heatable wiper rubber for a wiper blade of a windshield wiper, for example. In order to easily and reliably provide a wiper rubber having good and particularly temperature-stable wiper quality and / or a windshield defrosting function with reduced running noise, even when the outside air temperature is low, the wiper rubber is coated at least partially with a conductive layer. The conductive layer is coated at least partially with an electrically insulating layer. Furthermore, a manufacturing method for manufacturing such a wiper rubber for a windshield wiper, for example, and a wiper blade provided with this wiper rubber is disclosed.

[0003] Disclosure of the Invention According to the present invention, there is provided a wiper rubber provided with an attachment portion, particularly a cooling-capable wiper rubber for a wiper blade of a windshield wiper, wherein the wiper rubber includes a cooling portion, the cooling portion includes a passage system, the passage system extends longitudinally within the wiper rubber, and a cooling medium circulating within the circulation path can be supplied to the passage system, or the cooling portion includes at least one Peltier element, and the Peltier element is introduced into the material of the wiper rubber.

[0004] By the solution proposed by the present invention, it is possible to avoid excessive heating of the material of the wiper rubber, particularly when the outside air temperature is high and the solar radiation is strong, which helps to significantly extend the life of the wiper rubber and thus the time between replacements.

[0005] The wiper rubber proposed by the present invention includes a passage system, the passage system itself including an inlet passage, an outlet passage, and a heat exchanger, which are parts of the circulation path. Furthermore, the circulation path may include a cooling fluid container, such as a water container, in which a cooling medium that has been previously cooled by the heat exchanger is stored and circulates from this cooling fluid container through the circulation path.

[0006] The wiper rubber proposed by the present invention is formed such that the passage system extends substantially in the longitudinal direction of the wiper rubber at the mounting portion of the wiper rubber.

[0007] In the advantageous configuration of the wiper rubber proposed by the present invention, the passage system extends within the material of the wiper rubber, in the portion that extends between the mounting portion of the wiper rubber and the abrasion strip.

[0008] Alternatively, at least one Peltier element may be embedded in the wiper rubber proposed by the present invention, oriented horizontally or vertically within the material of the wiper rubber. The use of a Peltier element similarly avoids excessive heating of the wiper rubber material, and the temperature of the wiper rubber is reduced, for example, in strong sunlight, thereby improving the anti-aging properties of the wiper rubber proposed by the present invention.

[0009] Advantageously, at least one Peltier element incorporated into the wiper rubber material is connected to a voltage source via a connecting line.

[0010] In the wiper rubber proposed by the present invention, multiple Peltier elements may be embedded in a mounting position where they are, for example, vertically overlapping each other.

[0011] Alternatively, multiple Peltier elements could be embedded within the wiper rubber material, spaced apart from each other along its longitudinal direction.

[0012] In one of the configurations of the wiper rubber proposed by the present invention, particularly for cooling the wiper rubber, the wiper rubber is equipped with a cover that reflects radiant heat in the standby position of the windshield wiper, whether it be a rear windshield wiper or a front windshield wiper. According to this advantageous configuration variation, in the standby position of the windshield wiper, the cover is placed over a first wiper equipped with a wiper rubber and a second wiper equipped with a wiper rubber by an extension device in the covering direction.

[0013] Advantageously, the cover, which can protect the wiper rubber material from strong sunlight and other heat sources, is equipped with a heat-reflective coating, which is kept substantially white.

[0014] Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of wiper rubber in windshield wipers, particularly in front windshield wipers or rear windshield wipers of vehicles.

[0015] Advantages of the invention The solution proposed by this invention protects the elastic material of the wiper rubber from excessive heating when the ambient temperature is high. When heat is dissipated from the wiper rubber material through a circulation path that guides a cooling medium, comprising an integrated heat exchanger and storage container, the wiper rubber material is continuously passed through the cooling medium that dissipates the heat. This ensures continuous heat dissipation, so that the wiper rubber material substantially maintains its elastic properties and does not deteriorate, or the deterioration process is slowed down. This extends the replacement interval at a low cost, regardless of whether the wiper rubber is used for the front windshield wiper or the rear windshield wiper.

[0016] According to the present invention, when at least one Peltier element is introduced within the material of the wiper rubber, the voltage source of the Peltier element can be connected to the vehicle battery in an advantageous manner, thereby eliminating the need for a separate voltage source for cooling the wiper rubber material of the windshield wiper in the front and rear regions of the vehicle. The Peltier elements may be spaced apart from each other axially when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade, or alternatively, embedded within the elastic material of the wiper rubber in a horizontal or vertical position, which may depend on the cross-sectional profile of the wiper rubber.

[0017] In another configuration variation of the wiper rubber proposed by the present invention, aging of the wiper rubber in high ambient temperatures can be reduced by providing the wiper rubber of the vehicle's windshield wiper blade with a cover that reflects radiant heat, particularly one that is kept white. This is advantageous in avoiding unacceptably high temperatures for the material of the vehicle's windshield wiper, especially when the vehicle is parked for a relatively long period of time in a location exposed to direct sunlight.

[0018] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings and the following description. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0019] [Figure 1] This is a cross-sectional view of the wiper rubber of a wiper blade, showing the integrated passage system for dissipating heat. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram showing the front section of a vehicle with a windshield wiper arm equipped with a radiation-reflecting cover. [Figure 3] This figure shows one embodiment of the wiper rubber proposed by the present invention, in which at least one Peltier element is embedded in the molded material in a horizontal or vertical position.

[0020] Embodiments of the Invention In the following description of embodiments of the present invention, identical or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions of these elements in individual cases are omitted. The drawings are merely schematic representations of the subject matter of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 1 shows a first embodiment variation of the wiper rubber 10 proposed by the present invention for the wiper blade 12 of a windshield wiper 42.

[0022] Figure 1 shows a cross-section of a wiper rubber 10 with a wiper lip 14 formed at the lower end of the wiper blade 12. The wiper lip 14 transitions into a wiper lip wedge-shaped portion 24, which itself is connected to a region of the wiper rubber 10 that is configured as a friction strip 16 via an inclined web 22. Above the friction strip 16, a block-shaped stepped portion extends, which is also connected to the mounting portion 18 of the wiper rubber 10 by a mounting web 20.

[0023] As can be seen from the drawing in Figure 1, in the variation shown in Figure 1, the passage system 25 extends into the mounting portion 18. This passage system 25 in Figure 1 has an inlet passage 26 and an outlet passage 28 through which the cooling medium flows. The first mounting position of the passage system 25 is indicated by reference numeral 64 in the drawing shown in Figure 1. Alternatively, the second mounting position 66 indicates the position of the passage system 25 or the inlet passage 26 and outlet passage 28 in the block-shaped portion of the wiper rubber 10 shown in the cross-sectional view of Figure 1. For example, the cooling medium, which is water, is stored in the storage container 34 and flows into the inlet passage 26 in the circulation path 30. The inlet passage 26 and outlet passage 28 extend in the longitudinal direction 74, that is, in the drawing plane shown in Figure 1. This means that the wiper rubber 10 is passed through the inflow passage 26 in the longitudinal direction 74 by the cooling medium, and then flows out again after passing through the outflow passage 28, free from the wiper rubber 10 and the waste heat from the wiper rubber 10. At this time, the cooling medium supplied to the heat exchanger 32 integrated within the circulation path 30 is heated. Heat is removed from the cooling medium within the heat exchanger 32, thereby cooling the cooling medium accordingly, and it flows back into the storage container 34 in the circulation path 30. The heat exchanger 32 may be, for example, part of a vehicle air conditioning system.

[0024] In the configuration variation of the solution proposed by the present invention, as shown in Figure 1, heat introduced into the wiper rubber 10 during periods of relatively long solar radiation is discharged via the circulation path 30, separated from the heated cooling medium after passing through the heat exchanger 32, and then discharged. This prevents or significantly reduces excessive heating of the wiper rubber 10 material and the resulting shortening of its lifespan due to embrittlement or other deterioration.

[0025] From the drawing shown in FIG. 2, in another configuration variation of the solution proposed by the present invention, it is clear that the windshield wiper 42 disposed in the recessed portion 40 below the front windshield 38 of the vehicle 36 has a first wiper 44 and a second wiper 46. Both wipers 44, 46 are moved on the front windshield 38 of the vehicle 36. The wiper directions of the first wiper 44 and the second wiper 46 are indicated by reference numeral 48.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows the standby position 52 of the windshield wiper 42. The first wiper 44 and the second wiper 46 are accommodated in the standby position 52 within the recessed portion 40.

[0027] In order to avoid excessive heating when the solar radiation is strong and / or the outside air temperature is high, covers 50 are placed on the first wiper 44 or the second wiper 46 in the covering direction 54, respectively. The cover 50 is preferably made of a highly flexible material that can be wound, and ideally consists of a white, heat-radiation-reflecting coating. It is fed out through a feeding device 56 and is placed on the first wiper 44 and the second wiper 46 of the windshield wiper 42 in the covering direction 54. Based on the coating of the cover 50 that bounces back heat radiation, excessive heating of the material of the wiper rubber 10 accommodated in the first wiper 44 and the second wiper 46 of the windshield wiper 42 is prevented. The covering direction in which the cover 50 is fed out by the feeding device 56 and placed on the first wiper 44 or the second wiper 46 is marked with reference numeral 54. The feeding device 56 for winding up the cover 50 when not in use has an electrically driven roller, and the material of the cover 50 is accommodated on this roller.

[0028] Figure 3 illustrates another configuration variation of the solution proposed by the present invention. According to Figure 3, at least one Peltier element 58 may be introduced into the material of the wiper rubber 10 of the wiper blade 12. The voltage of the voltage source 62 is applied to at least one Peltier element 58 via a connecting line 60. Heat accumulated in the material of the wiper rubber 10 is released through the Peltier element 58 when the external temperature is high or the sunlight is strong. This prevents excessive heating of the material of the wiper rubber 10. This is advantageous for the lifespan of the material of the wiper rubber 10 for the wiper blade 12, thereby extending the replacement interval of the wiper rubber 10.

[0029] From the drawing in Figure 3, it can be seen that at least one Peltier element 58 is installed in a horizontal position 70, for example, at the first installation position 64. In the drawing in Figure 3, the first installation position 64 is selected so that the Peltier element 58 is housed in the mounting portion 18 of the wiper rubber 10 in a horizontal position 70.

[0030] In addition to or alternative to the first mounting position 64 of the Peltier element 58, the Peltier element 58 can be positioned, for example, in a block portion, similarly in a horizontal orientation 70. The block portion is flexibly coupled to the mounting portion 18 via the mounting web 20. Within the block portion, at least one Peltier element 58, shown in Figure 3 as the second mounting position 66, is also positioned in a horizontal orientation 70.

[0031] Furthermore, Figure 3 shows that at least one Peltier element 58 may be incorporated into the material of the wiper rubber 10 at a third assembly position 68, and that at the third assembly position 68, the Peltier element 58 is positioned in a vertical orientation 72.

[0032] In the drawing shown in Figure 3, various mounting positions 64, 66, 68 for at least one Peltier element 58 are illustrated, and the Peltier element 58 is introduced into the material of the wiper rubber 10. Viewed along the longitudinal direction 74 of the wiper rubber 10, the individual Peltier elements 58 may be positioned so as to overlap each other vertically according to the mounting positions 64, 66, 68 with the offsets shown in Figure 3. Furthermore, it is also possible to place the individual Peltier elements 58 into various planes of the material of the wiper rubber 10, i.e., embed them in the material of the wiper rubber 10, with axial spacing from each other along the longitudinal direction 74 of the wiper rubber 12, according to the cross-section shown in Figure 3. When the Peltier element 58 is embedded in the material of the wiper rubber 10, optimal heat transfer is achieved, thereby enabling heat dissipation from the material of the wiper rubber 10. As a result, the wiper rubber 10 is not excessively heated when the ambient temperature is high and / or when sunlight is strong, and the lifespan of the material of the wiper rubber 10 can be significantly extended.

[0033] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein or the embodiments pointed out herein. Rather, numerous variations are possible within the scope of the claims and within the scope of the actions of those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A wiper rubber (10) equipped with a mounting portion (18), The wiper rubber (10) includes a cooling section, The cooling section includes a passage system (25), the passage system (25) extends longitudinally (74) within the wiper rubber (10), and a cooling medium circulating in a circulation path (30) can be supplied to the passage system (25), characterized in that the wiper rubber (10).

2. The wiper rubber (10) according to claim 1, wherein the passage system (25) includes an inlet passage (26), an outlet passage (28), and a heat exchanger (32), which are parts of the circulation path (30).

3. The wiper rubber (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the passage system (25) extends longitudinally (74) through the wiper rubber (10) at the mounting portion (18).

4. The wiper rubber (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the passage system (25) extends within the wiper rubber (10) to a portion that extends between the mounting portion (18) and the abrasion strip (16) of the wiper rubber (10).

5. A windshield wiper (42) comprising the wiper rubber (10) according to claim 1 or 2, A windshield wiper (42) characterized in that, in the standby position (52) of the windshield wiper (42), a cover (50) is placed over the first wiper (44) equipped with a wiper rubber (10) and the second wiper (46) equipped with a wiper rubber (10) by an extension device (56) in the covering direction (54).

6. Use of the wiper rubber (10) according to claim 1 or 2 in a windshield wiper (42).

Images