阅读说明：本技术 用于车辆挡风玻璃雨刮系统的雨刮臂组件 (Wiper arm assembly for a vehicle windshield wiper system ) 是由 尼古拉斯·贝内 于 2017-07-03 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种雨刮臂组件(4),该雨刮臂组件包括：被构造成支撑雨刮片的雨刮臂(11)；被构造成固定到雨刮轴(7)的安装构件(9)；包括第一弹簧端部分(14.1)和第二弹簧端部分(14.2)的弹簧构件(14),该第一弹簧端部分被操作地连接到雨刮臂(11),该第二弹簧端部分被操作地连接到安装构件(9)；以及被构造成调节由弹簧构件(14)对雨刮臂(11)施加的偏置力的力调节装置(15)。力调节装置(15)包括致动构件,第一弹簧端部分(14.1)连接到该致动构件,该致动构件能够在第一调节位置和第二调节位置之间以可移动方式安装在雨刮臂(11)上,并且被构造成使第一弹簧端部分(14.1)在第一弹簧位置和第二弹簧位置之间移位,在该第一弹簧位置,弹簧构件(14)对雨刮臂(11)施加第一偏置力,在该第二弹簧位置,弹簧构件(14)对雨刮臂(11)施加第二偏置力,该第二偏置力高于第一偏置力。(The invention relates to a wiper arm assembly (4) comprising: a wiper arm (11) configured to support a wiper blade; a mounting member (9) configured to be fixed to the wiper shaft (7); a spring member (14) comprising a first spring end portion (14.1) operatively connected to the wiper arm (11) and a second spring end portion (14.2) operatively connected to the mounting member (9); and a force adjustment device (15) configured to adjust a biasing force exerted by the spring member (14) on the wiper arm (11). The force adjustment device (15) comprises an actuating member to which a first spring end portion (14.1) is connected, which is movably mountable on the wiper arm (11) between a first adjustment position and a second adjustment position and is configured to displace the first spring end portion (14.1) between a first spring position in which the spring member (14) exerts a first biasing force on the wiper arm (11) and a second spring position in which the spring member (14) exerts a second biasing force on the wiper arm (11), which second biasing force is higher than the first biasing force.)

1. A wiper arm assembly (4) for a vehicle windshield wiper system (3), the wiper arm assembly (4) comprising:

-a wiper arm (11), the wiper arm (11) being configured to support a wiper blade (5),

-a mounting member (9), the mounting member (9) being configured to be fixed to a wiper shaft (7), the wiper arm (11) being pivotally connected to the mounting portion (9),

-a spring member (14), the spring member (14) comprising a first spring end portion (14.1) and a second spring end portion (14.2), the first spring end portion (14.1) being operatively connected to the wiper arm (11), the second spring end portion (14.2) being operatively connected to the mounting member (9), the spring member (14) being configured to apply a biasing force to the wiper arm (11) so as to force a wiper blade (5) supported by the wiper arm (11) against a vehicle windscreen (2) in use,

-a force adjustment device (15), the force adjustment device (15) being configured to adjust the biasing force exerted by the spring member (14) on the wiper arm (11),

characterized in that the force adjustment device (15) comprises an actuation member (16), the first spring end portion (14.1) of the spring member (14) being connected to the actuation member (16), the actuation member (16) being movably mounted on the wiper arm (11) between a first adjustment position and a second adjustment position, and the actuation member (16) being configured to: when the actuating member (16) is displaced between the first and second adjustment positions, the first spring end portion (14.1) is displaced between a first spring position, in which the spring member (14) exerts a first biasing force on the wiper arm (11), and a second spring position, in which the spring member (14) exerts a second biasing force on the wiper arm (11), the second biasing force being higher than the first biasing force.

2. The wiper arm assembly (4) according to claim 1 wherein the second spring position is further from the mount (9) than the first spring position.

3. The wiper arm assembly (4) according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the wiper arm (11) comprises a lower portion (13), the lower portion (13) being configured to be oriented towards the vehicle windscreen (2), the second spring position being closer to the lower portion (13) of the wiper arm (11) than the first spring position.

4. The wiper arm assembly (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the actuating member (16) is slidably mounted on the wiper arm (11).

5. The wiper arm assembly (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the force adjustment device (15) comprises at least one guide member provided on the wiper arm (11) and configured to guide the actuating member (16) during the displacement of the actuating member (16) between the first and second adjustment positions.

6. The wiper arm assembly (4) according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least one guide member comprises at least one guide slot (21, 22), the at least one guide slot (21, 22) being provided on the wiper arm (11) and being configured to guide the actuating member (16) during displacement of the actuating member (16) between the first and second adjustment positions.

7. The wiper arm assembly (4) according to claim 6, characterized in that the at least one guide groove (21, 22) comprises a first abutment surface (23.1, 24.1) and a second abutment surface (23.2, 24.2), the actuating member (16) abutting on the first abutment surface (23.1, 24.1) when the actuating member (16) is in the first adjustment position and the actuating member (16) abutting on the second abutment surface (23.2, 24.2) when the actuating member (16) is in the second adjustment position.

8. The wiper arm assembly (4) according to claim 7, characterized in that the at least one guide groove (21, 22) comprises an elongated guide portion (21.1, 22.1) and a retaining portion (21.2, 22.2), the elongated guide portion (21.1, 22.1) defining the first abutment surface (23.1, 24.1) and the retaining portion (21.2, 22.2) defining the second abutment surface (23.2, 24.2).

9. The wiper arm assembly (4) according to any one of claims 5 to 8 characterized in that the actuating member (16) comprises an attachment portion (17), the first spring end portion (14.1) being attached on the attachment portion (17), the attachment portion (17) being engaged in the at least one guide member.

10. The wiper arm assembly (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the actuating member (16) comprises at least one handling portion (18.1, 18.2), the at least one handling portion (18.1, 18.2) being located outside the wiper arm (11) and configured to be handled by a user.

11. A windscreen wiper system (3) for a vehicle, comprising:

-a wiper arm assembly (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, and

-a wiper blade (5), said wiper blade (5) being fixed to said wiper arm (11) of said wiper arm assembly (4).

12. A windscreen wiper system (3) according to claim 11, further comprising a drive system (6), said drive system (6) comprising a wiper shaft (7) and a drive device (8), said drive device (8) being configured to reciprocally rotationally drive said wiper shaft (7) in two opposite directions, thereby reciprocally rotationally driving said wiper arm (11) between two opposite end positions.

13. A vehicle (1), the vehicle (1) comprising a windscreen (2) and a windscreen wiper system (3) according to claim 11 or 12.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a wiper arm assembly for a vehicle windscreen wiper system, and to a windscreen wiper system comprising said wiper arm assembly.

The invention can be applied in vehicles, in particular in heavy vehicles such as trucks, buses and construction equipment. Although the invention will be described in relation to a van or truck, the invention is not limited to these particular types of vehicles, but may also be used in other vehicles such as cars and vans.

Background

US5426815 discloses a windscreen wiper system comprising a wiper arm assembly having:

a wiper arm configured to support a wiper blade,

a mounting member configured to be fixed to a wiper shaft, the wiper arm being pivotally connected to the mounting portion,

a spring member including a first spring end portion operatively connected to the wiper arm and a second spring end portion operatively connected to the mounting member, the spring member being configured to apply a biasing force to the wiper arm to urge a wiper blade supported by the wiper arm against a vehicle windshield in use,

a force adjustment device configured to adjust a biasing force applied by the spring member to the wiper arm based on a position of the wiper arm.

The force adjustment device of US5426815 is particularly configured to reduce the biasing force exerted by the spring member on the wiper arm when the wiper arm is in its end positions, and to increase the biasing force exerted by the spring member on the wiper arm when the wiper arm is in its intermediate position (the intermediate position being between the end positions of the wiper arm).

This configuration of the force adjustment device allows to overcome, to a large extent, the lifting of the wiper blade from the windscreen surface at high vehicle speeds, while avoiding the wiper blade sticking against the windscreen surface at low vehicle speeds and thereby avoiding the wiper blade breaking.

However, when the windscreen wiper system disclosed in US5426815 and provided with a conventional wiper blade is mounted on a vehicle having an aerodynamic windscreen, it is not possible to replace the conventional wiper blade with a flat wiper blade without modifying the wiper arm or the spring member. In fact, when the windshield is an aerodynamic windshield, the flat wiper blade requires a higher biasing force to maintain optimal contact between the windshield surface and the wiper blade.

However, any replacement of the wiper arm or spring member may incur additional costs to the end customer and may result in the manufacturer seeking more reference.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved wiper arm assembly which allows a simplified and cheaper replacement of a conventional wiper blade with a flat wiper blade, in particular without the need to replace any part of the wiper arm assembly, and in particular without the need to replace the wiper arm or the spring member of the wiper arm.

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a wiper arm assembly for a vehicle windscreen wiper system, the wiper arm assembly comprising:

a wiper arm configured to support a wiper blade,

a mounting member configured to be fixed to a wiper shaft, the wiper arm being pivotally connected to the mounting portion,

a spring member including a first spring end portion operatively connected to the wiper arm and a second spring end portion operatively connected to the mounting member, the spring member being configured to apply a biasing force to the wiper arm to urge a wiper blade supported by the wiper arm against a vehicle windshield in use,

a force adjustment device configured to adjust a biasing force applied by the spring member to the wiper arm,

wherein the force adjustment device comprises an actuation member to which a first spring end portion of a spring member is connected, the actuation member being movably mounted on the wiper arm between a first adjustment position and a second adjustment position, and the actuation member being configured such that the first spring end portion is displaced between a first spring position in which the spring member exerts a first biasing force on the wiper arm and a second spring position in which the spring member exerts a second biasing force on the wiper arm, the second biasing force being higher than the first biasing force, when the actuation member is displaced between the first adjustment position and the second adjustment position.

Due to this configuration of the force adjustment device, when a user desires to replace a conventional wiper blade supported by the wiper arm with a flat wiper blade, he only needs to detach the conventional wiper blade from the second end portion of the wiper arm, mount the flat wiper blade on the second end portion of the wiper arm, and then shift the actuating member from the first adjustment position to the second adjustment position to shift the first spring end portion of the spring member from the first spring position to the second spring position.

By this displacement of the first spring end portion, the biasing force exerted by the spring member on the wiper arm is higher and, even if the windscreen is an aerodynamic windscreen, an optimal contact between the windscreen surface and the flat wiper blade, and thus an optimal cleaning of the windscreen, is ensured.

Thus, the wiper arm assembly according to the present invention ensures easy replacement of a conventional wiper blade with a flat wiper blade without the need to replace the wiper arm assembly, and in particular without the need to replace the wiper arm or the spring member.

The wiper arm assembly may also include one or more of the following features, alone or in combination.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the first spring end portion of the spring member is attached to the actuating member.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the second spring position is further from the mounting portion than the first spring position.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the wiper arm includes a lower portion configured to be oriented toward a vehicle windshield, the second spring position being closer to the lower portion of the wiper arm than the first spring position. This configuration of the force adjustment device further increases the value of the second biasing force.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the actuating member is slidably mounted on the wiper arm. This configuration of the actuation member makes it easy for the user to displace the actuation member.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the force adjustment device comprises at least one guide member provided on the wiper arm and configured to guide the actuating member during displacement thereof between the first adjustment position and the second adjustment position. This configuration of the actuating member further facilitates displacement of the actuating member between the first and second adjustment positions.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the at least one guide member comprises at least one guide slot provided on the wiper arm and configured to guide the actuating member during displacement thereof between the first and second adjustment positions.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the wiper arm comprises a first side wall provided with a first guide groove and a second side wall opposite the first side wall and provided with a second guide groove facing the first guide groove, the first and second guide grooves being configured to guide the actuating member during displacement thereof between the first and second adjustment positions.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the at least one guide slot comprises a first abutment surface against which the actuating member abuts when the actuating member is in the first adjustment position and a second abutment surface against which the actuating member abuts when the actuating member is in the second adjustment position.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the first abutment surface and the second abutment surface are offset with respect to each other in the longitudinal direction of the wiper arm.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the at least one guide slot comprises an elongated guide portion defining the first abutment surface and a retaining portion defining the second abutment surface.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the retaining portion is configured to retain the actuating member in the second adjustment position and in particular to retain the actuating member in the second adjustment position as long as the actuating member is not actively moved to the first adjustment position. This configuration of the at least one guide slot avoids any undesired displacement of the actuating member towards the first adjustment position.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the actuating member comprises an attachment portion on which the first spring end portion is attached, the attachment portion being engaged in the at least one guide member.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the attachment portion extends transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the wiper arm.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the attachment portion has a cylindrical shape.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the actuating member comprises at least one manipulation portion located outside the wiper arm and configured to be manipulated by a user. This configuration of the actuation member makes it easy for a user to manipulate the actuation member.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the at least one manipulation part is connected to the attachment part.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the actuating member comprises a first handling part movable along a first side wall of the wiper arm and a second handling part movable along a second side wall of the wiper arm.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first manipulating portion and the second manipulating portion are connected to the first end and the second end of the attaching portion, respectively.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the first spring end portion is close to the wiper shaft and the second spring end portion is remote from the wiper shaft.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the spring member is located within the wiper arm.

According to one embodiment of the invention, each of the first and second adjustment positions is stable.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the first spring end portion is pivotally coupled to the actuation member, and in particular to the attachment portion of the actuation member.

According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a windscreen wiper system for a vehicle comprising a wiper arm assembly according to the invention and a wiper blade fixed to the wiper arm of the wiper arm assembly.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the windscreen wiper system further comprises a drive system comprising a wiper shaft and a drive device configured to reciprocally rotationally drive the wiper shaft in two opposite directions, thereby reciprocally rotationally driving the wiper arm between two opposite end positions.

According to a third aspect, the invention provides a vehicle comprising a windscreen and a windscreen wiper system according to the invention.

Drawings

The following is a more detailed description of embodiments of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings by way of example.

In these figures:

fig. 1 is a partially schematic perspective view of a truck provided with a windscreen wiper system according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the windshield wiper system of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 and 4 are partial cross-sectional views of the windshield wiper system of fig. 1 showing first spring end portions of spring members of the windshield wiper system in first and second spring positions, respectively.

Fig. 5 and 6 are bottom views of the windshield wiper system of fig. 1 showing first spring end portions of the spring member in first and second spring positions, respectively.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 schematically shows a truck 1 comprising a passenger cabin with a windscreen 2 and a windscreen wiper system 3 for cleaning the windscreen 2.

The windscreen wiper system 3 comprises a wiper arm assembly 4 and a wiper blade 5, which wiper blade 5 is fixed to the wiper arm assembly 4. As better shown in fig. 2, the windscreen wiper system 3 further comprises a drive system 6, the drive system 6 comprising a wiper shaft 7 and a drive device 8, the wiper shaft 7 being fixed to the wiper arm assembly 4, the drive device 8 being configured to reciprocally rotatably drive the wiper shaft 7 in two opposite directions, thereby reciprocally rotatably driving the wiper arm assembly 4 between two opposite end positions.

The wiper arm assembly 4 comprises, inter alia, a mounting member 9 and a wiper arm 11, the mounting member 9 being fixed to the wiper shaft 7, the wiper arm 11 having a first end portion 11.1 and a second end portion 11.2, the first end portion 11.1 being pivotally connected to the mounting member 9, the second end portion 11.2 supporting the wiper blade 5.

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the wiper arm 11 comprises a main portion 12, which main portion 12 has an inverted U-shaped cross-section. Thus, the main portion 12 of the wiper arm 11 comprises a first side wall 12.1, a second side wall 12.2 and an upper wall 12.3, the second side wall 12.2 being opposite the first side wall 12.1, the upper wall 12.3 connecting the first side wall 12.1 and the second side wall 12.2.

The wiper arm 11 also includes a lower portion 13, the lower portion 13 being configured to be oriented toward the windshield 2. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the lower part 13 is formed by the lower edge of the first side wall 12.1 and the lower edge of the second side wall 12.2.

The wiper arm assembly 4 further comprises a spring member 14, which spring member 14 is located within the wiper arm 11, in particular within the interior space defined by the first and second side walls 12.1, 12.2 and the upper wall 12.3. The spring member 14 comprises a first spring end portion 14.1, which first spring end portion 14.1 is remote from the wiper shaft 7 and operatively connected to the wiper arm 11, and a second spring end portion 14.2, which second spring end portion 14.2 is close to the wiper shaft 7 and operatively connected to the mounting member 9. The spring member 14 is particularly configured to apply a biasing force to the wiper arm 11 so as to urge the wiper blade 5 supported by the wiper arm 11 against the windscreen 2 in use.

The wiper arm assembly 4 further comprises a force adjustment device 15, the force adjustment device 15 being configured to adjust the biasing force exerted by the spring member 14 on the wiper arm 11.

The force adjustment device 15 comprises an actuating member 16 (better shown in fig. 5 and 6), which actuating member 16 is movably mountable, and advantageously slidably mountable, on the wiper arm 11 between a first adjustment position close to the wiper shaft 7 (see fig. 2, 3 and 5) and a second adjustment position remote from the wiper shaft 7 (see fig. 4 and 6).

The actuation member 16 comprises an attachment portion 17, on which attachment portion 17 the first spring end portion 14.1 is attached (e.g. pivotally attached). According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the attachment portion 17 extends transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the wiper arm 11 and has a cylindrical shape.

The actuating member 16 is particularly configured: when the actuating member 16 is displaced from the first adjustment position to the second adjustment position, the first spring end portion 14.1 is displaced from a first spring position (see fig. 2, 3 and 5), in which the spring member 14 exerts a first biasing force on the wiper arm 11, to a second spring position (see fig. 4 and 6), in which the spring member 14 exerts a second biasing force on the wiper arm 11. The actuation member 16 is further configured to: when the actuating member 16 is displaced from the second adjustment position to the first adjustment position, the first spring end portion 14.1 is displaced from the second spring position to the first spring position.

As better shown in fig. 2 to 6, the second spring position is further from the mounting portion 9 than the first spring position. Therefore, the second biasing force exerted by the spring member 14 on the wiper arm 11 is higher than the first biasing force exerted by the spring member 14 on the wiper arm 11. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the second spring position is also closer to the lower part 13 of the wiper arm 11 than the first spring position.

The actuating member 16 further comprises a first 18.1 and a second 18.2 handling portion, which first 18.1 and second 18.2 handling portions are located outside the wiper arm 11 and are configured to be handled by a user. The first 18.1 and second 18.2 manipulating portions are connected to first and second ends of the attachment portion 17, respectively. In particular, the first actuating part 18.1 can be moved along the first side wall 12.1 of the wiper arm 11, while the second actuating part 18.2 can be moved along the second side wall 12.2 of the wiper arm 11.

The force adjustment device 15 further comprises a first guide groove 21 and a second guide groove 22, the first guide groove 21 being provided on the first side wall 12.1 of the wiper arm 11, the second guide groove 22 being provided on the second side wall 12.2 of the wiper arm 11, the second guide groove 22 facing the first guide groove 21. The first guide slot 21 and the second guide slot 22 are configured to guide the actuation member 16, in particular the attachment portion 17 of the actuation member 16, during displacement of the actuation member 16 between the first adjustment position and the second adjustment position. Advantageously, the first and second ends of the attachment portion 17 are engaged in the first and second guide grooves 21 and 22, respectively, and an intermediate portion of the attachment portion 17 (which intermediate portion is located between the first and second ends of the attachment portion 17) extends within the interior space defined by the wiper arm 11.

The first guide slot 21 comprises an elongated guide portion 21.1 defining a first abutment surface 23.1 against which the actuating member 16 (in particular the attachment portion 17) abuts when the actuating member 16 is in the first adjustment position, and a retaining portion 21.2 defining a second abutment surface 23.2 against which the actuating member 16 abuts when the actuating member 16 is in the second adjustment position. Furthermore, the second guide slot 22 comprises an elongated guide portion 22.1 and a holding portion 22.2, the elongated guide portion 22.1 defining a first abutment surface 24.1 against which the actuating member 16 (in particular the attachment portion 17) abuts when the actuating member 16 is in the first adjustment position, the holding portion 22.2 defining a second abutment surface 24.2 against which the actuating member 16 abuts when the actuating member 16 is in the second adjustment position. Advantageously, the first and second abutment surfaces of each of the first and second guide grooves 21, 22 are offset relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the wiper arm 11.

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the retaining portions 21.2, 22.2 of each of the first and second guide grooves 21, 22 are configured to retain the actuating member 16 in the second adjustment position and, in particular, to retain the actuating member 16 in the second adjustment position as long as the actuating member 16 is not actively moved by the user to the first adjustment position.

Hereinafter, a method of replacing the first type of wiper blade 5 (e.g., a conventional wiper blade) with the second type of wiper blade 5 (e.g., a flat wiper blade) will be disclosed. This method comprises the steps of:

the wiper blade 5 of the first type is detached from the second end portion 11.2 of the wiper arm 11,

the wiper blade 5 of the second type is mounted on the second end portion 11.2 of the wiper arm 11,

displacing the actuating member 16 from the first to the second adjustment position to displace the first spring end portion 14.1 of the spring member 14 from the first to the second spring position results in a higher biasing force exerted by the spring member 14 on the wiper arm 11 and ensures an optimal contact between the windscreen 2 and the wiper blade of the second type and thus an optimal cleaning of the windscreen 2 even if the windscreen 2 is an aerodynamic windscreen.

Thus, the windscreen wiper system 3 according to the invention ensures easy replacement of a conventional wiper blade with a flat wiper blade without having to replace the wiper arm assembly 4, in particular without having to replace the wiper arm 11.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but that a person skilled in the art will recognize many modifications and variations which are within the scope of the appended claims.