阅读说明：本技术 用于交通工具的减小弧的风挡刮水器系统 (Reduced arc windshield wiper system for a vehicle ) 是由 里查德·谢泼德 于 2018-03-30 设计创作，主要内容包括：风挡刮水器系统(100)包括枢转刮水器臂(110)；用于擦拭表面(102)的刮水器片(120)；以及将枢转刮水器臂(110)联接到刮水器片(120)的连接器组件(128),该连接器组件(128)包括齿轮驱动器(130),该齿轮驱动器包括至少一个驱动齿轮(132)和至少一个定位嵌齿(136),其中该齿轮驱动器(130)基于枢转刮水器臂(110)的角位置旋转刮水器片(120),使得刮水器片(120)的运动路径(320)的弧减小。(A windshield wiper system (100) includes a pivoting wiper arm (110); a wiper blade (120) for wiping a surface (102); and a connector assembly (128) coupling the pivoting wiper arm (110) to the wiper blade (120), the connector assembly (128) including a gear drive (130) including at least one drive gear (132) and at least one positioning cog (136), wherein the gear drive (130) rotates the wiper blade (120) based on an angular position of the pivoting wiper arm (110) such that an arc of a path of motion (320) of the wiper blade (120) is reduced.)

1. A windshield wiper system (100) comprising:

A pivoting wiper arm (110);

A wiper blade (120) for wiping a surface (102); and

A connector assembly (128) coupling the pivoting wiper arm (110) to the wiper blade (120), the connector assembly (128) including a gear drive (130) including at least one drive gear (132) and at least one positioning cog (136),

Wherein the gear drive (130) rotates the wiper blade (120) based on an angular position of the pivoting wiper arm (110) such that an arc of a path of motion (320) of the wiper blade (120) is reduced.

2. The windshield wiper system (100) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one drive gear (132) is coupled to said wiper arm (110) and said at least one positioning cog (136) is coupled to said wiper blade (120).

3. A windscreen wiper system (100) according to claim 1 or 2,

Wherein the pivoting wiper arm (110) comprises a first arm member (112) and a second arm member (114), an

Wherein the gear drive (130) comprises a first drive gear (132) and a second drive gear (134), wherein the first drive gear (132) is coupled to the first arm member (112) and the second drive gear (134) is coupled to the second arm member (114).

4. The windshield wiper system (100) according to claim 3,

Wherein the gear drive (130) comprises a first positioning cog (136) and a second positioning cog (138), and

Wherein the first and second locating cogs (136, 138) mesh with the first and second drive gears (132, 134).

5. The windshield wiper system (100) as set forth in claim 4 wherein said connector assembly (128) further includes a rocker (140) coupled to said wiper arm (110).

6. the windshield wiper system (100) according to claim 5,

Wherein the swing link (140) includes a first swing link member (142) and a second swing link member (144), and

Wherein the first positioning cog (136) is coupled to the first rocker member (142) and the second positioning cog (138) is coupled to the second rocker member (144).

7. The windshield wiper system (100) as set forth in any one of the preceding claims 1-6 wherein said connector assembly (128) further comprises a back plate (150).

8. the windshield wiper system (100) as recited in claim 7, wherein said back plate (150) comprises a generally diamond or rhombus shape.

9. A windscreen wiper system (100) according to claim 7 or 8,

wherein the back plate (150) is arranged between the gear drive (130) and the pendulum lever (140), and

Wherein the back plate (150) provides a connection between the pendulum rod (140) and the wiper arm (110).

10. Windshield wiper system (100) according to any of the preceding claims 4 to 6,

wherein, during operation, the wiper arm (110) and the first and second drive gears (132, 134) rotate in a first direction at the same first speed rate, an

wherein the rocker (140) and the positioning cog (136, 138) rotate in a second direction opposite to the first direction at a same second speed rate higher than the first speed rate.

11. The windshield wiper system (100) as set forth in claim 10 wherein said wiper arm (110), said wiper blade (120) and said rocker (140) are aligned when said wiper blade (120) is in a centered position on said surface (102).

12. A vehicle (300) comprising a windshield wiper system (100) as claimed in claims 1 to 12.

13. the vehicle (300) of claim 12, wherein the vehicle (300) is a rail vehicle.

Technical Field

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a reduced arc windshield wiper system that may be used in conjunction with a variety of different types of vehicles. The vehicle referred to herein is a motor vehicle or a non-motor vehicle and may be, for example, a rail vehicle, a motor vehicle, a watercraft or an aircraft.

Background

Windshield wipers (also known as surface wipers) are devices used to remove rain, snow, ice, and debris from a surface such as a windshield. Almost all vehicles, including motor vehicles (e.g., cars and trucks), rail vehicles (e.g., railroad cars), boats, and some aircraft, are equipped with such wipers, which are often required by law.

The wiper typically includes a wiper arm that pivots at one end and has a long wiper blade attached near the other end of the wiper arm. The wiper arm is powered by an electric motor (typically an electric motor), although pneumatic power is also used in some vehicles. The wiper blade rotates back and forth across the windshield, pushing water or other deposits from its surface. The speed of the wiper arm is typically adjustable, having several continuous speeds and typically having one or more intermittent settings. Most automobiles use two synchronized radial type arms, while many commercial vehicles use one or more four-bar linkage arms.

Disclosure of Invention

A first aspect of the present disclosure provides a windshield wiper system comprising: pivoting a wiper arm; a wiper blade for wiping a surface; and a connector assembly coupling the pivoting wiper arm to the wiper blade, the connector assembly including a gear drive including at least one drive gear and at least one positioning cog, wherein the gear drive rotates the wiper blade based on an angular position of the pivoting wiper arm such that an arc of a path of motion of the wiper blade is reduced.

a second aspect of the present disclosure provides a vehicle comprising a windshield wiper system as described herein.

Drawings

FIG. 1 illustrates a first perspective view of a windshield wiper system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a second perspective view of a windshield wiper system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a third perspective view of a windshield wiper system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows a view of a portion of a rail vehicle including a windshield wiper system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 5 and 6 show multiple views of a windshield wiper system in different positions according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

To facilitate an understanding of the embodiments, principles and features of the present disclosure, they are explained below with reference to implementations in illustrative embodiments. In particular, they are described in the context of being a windshield wiper system for a vehicle. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to use in the described systems or methods.

The components and materials making up the various embodiments are described below in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. Many suitable components and materials that will perform the same or similar function as the materials described herein are intended to be within the scope of embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 1, 2 and 3 show perspective views of a windshield wiper system 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 1 shows a front view, fig. 2 shows a rear view, and fig. 3 shows a side view of a windshield wiper system 100.

Known windshield wiper systems include wiper arms that may leave an un-wiped area. For example, current wiper systems may trace a motion path having a large arc in a central region of the windshield, which tends to leave poor visibility where most needed in the central region (particularly the lower central region of the windshield).

the present disclosure provides an improved windshield wiper system, particularly a reduced arc windshield wiper system, which may be used in connection with many different types of vehicles. By varying the position, particularly the height, of the wiper blade as it traverses the path of travel (during the wiper stroke), the arc formed by the wiper blade may be reduced or reduced, thereby leaving less un-wiped area, particularly in the lower center area of the windshield and improving visibility.

Referring to fig. 1, 2 and 3, a windshield wiper system 100 includes a pivoting wiper arm 110 and a wiper blade 120 for wiping a surface 102. The surface 102 is a vehicle windshield, such as a rail vehicle windshield. In an exemplary embodiment, the wiper arm 110 includes a first arm member 112 and a second arm member 114 arranged in parallel. However, it should be noted that the wiper arm 110 may include only one arm member.

The wiper arm 110 and the wiper blade 120 are coupled to each other. The wiper blade 120 is coupled to the wiper arm 110 at one end. At the other end, the wiper arm 110 is powered by a motor. During operation, the wiper arm 110 rotates or moves back and forth with the wiper blade 120 across the surface 102 of the windshield, thereby removing rain, snow, ice, debris, and the like from the surface 102.

The connector assembly 128 is used to couple or connect the wiper arm 110 and the wiper blade 120. According to an exemplary embodiment, the connector assembly 128 includes a gear drive 130. The gear drive 130 includes a number of components including, for example, a drive gear and a positioning cog.

The gear drive 130 includes at least one drive gear 132 and at least one positioning cog 136. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the at least one drive gear 132 is configured as a partial gear, such as a half-gear, which means that the drive gear 132 does not include teeth over its entire circumference, but only over certain portions of the gear drive 130 and the wiper system 100 that are required for proper operation. Thus, material and cost can be saved. It should be noted, however, that the drive gear 132 may be configured as a complete gear having teeth over its entire circumference.

The at least one drive gear 132 is coupled to the pivoting wiper arm 110. The at least one gear drive 132 may be coupled directly to the wiper arm 110 or may be coupled to the wiper arm 110 via an adapter 160. In the example according to fig. 1, 2 and 3, wherein the wiper arm 110 comprises a first and a second arm member 112, 114, the gear drive 130 comprises a first and a second drive gear 132, 134, wherein the drive gears 132, 134 are coupled to each arm member 112, 114. The drive gear 132 is coupled to the arm member 112, and the drive gear 134 is coupled to the arm member 114, e.g., directly or via the first and second adapters 160, 162. The adapters 160, 162 are configured such that the drive gears 132, 134 include openings or cutouts that correspond to the shape of the adapters 160, 162 such that the drive gears 132, 134 may be pushed or placed over the adapters 160, 162.

The at least one positioning cog 136 is coupled to the wiper blade 120 via a pendulum 140. The at least one positioning cog 136 is configured as a full gear wheel having teeth over its entire circumference. The at least one locating cog 136 is smaller than the drive gears 132, 134 and has a smaller diameter than the drive gears 132, 134. According to the example of fig. 1, 2 and 3, wherein the wiper arm 110 comprises first and second arm members 112, 114 and first and second drive gears 132, 134, the gear drive 130 comprises first and second positioning cogs 136, 138 and the oscillating bar 140 comprises first and second oscillating bar members 142, 144. The positioning cogs 136, 138 are coupled to the wiper blade 120 via a pendulum 140. Specifically, the first positioning cog 136 is coupled to the wiper blade 120 via a first lever member 142, and the second positioning cog 138 is coupled to the wiper blade 120 via a second lever member 144.

The locating cogs 136, 138 and drive gears 132, 134 are positioned such that the locating cogs 136, 138 mesh with the drive gears 132, 134. The locating cogs 136, 138 are located between the drive gears 132, 134 and the two locating cogs 136, 138 mesh with the two drive gears 132, 134. During operation of the wiper system 100, the drive gears 132, 134 rotate in a first direction and the positioning cogs 136, 138 rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction.

as shown in fig. 2 and 3, the rocker 140 includes rocker members 142, 144 arranged generally in parallel. At one end, the rocker members 142, 144 are coupled to the wiper arm 120, either directly or via a mount 146. For example, the rocker members 142, 144 may be secured by bolts 148 to a mount 146, which in turn is secured to the wiper arm 120. The positioning cogs 136, 138 are disposed at the other, opposite ends of the rocker members 142, 144.

As further shown in fig. 2, the connector assembly 128 includes a back plate 150 located and positioned between the gear drive 130 and the swing link 140. The back plate 150 provides support and stability and also provides that the components of the gear drive 130 (the drive gears 132, 134 and the locating cogs 136, 138) are in the correct position and remain engaged at all times. The back plate 150 may comprise many different shapes, but is configured such that it is coupled to the rocker members 142, 144 and the wiper arm components 112, 114. In an exemplary embodiment, the back plate 150 may include a shape similar to a diamond or a rhombus. In addition, the backplate 150 may include corners, such as rounded corners 152, 154. Rounded corners 152 are opposite each other and rounded corners 154 are opposite each other. Each rounded corner 152, 154 includes a bore for securing the back plate 150 to the rocker members 142, 144 and the wiper arm members 112, 114, respectively. For example, the back plate 150 may be fastened to the rocker members 142, 144 by bolts extending from the rocker members 142, 144 through the rounded corners 154 of the back plate 150 to the positioning cogs 136, 138. Further, the backing plate 150 may be secured to the wiper arm members 112, 114 by fillets 152 via adapters 160, 162.

Operating the wiper system 100 means that the wiper system 100 executes a wiper stroke 104 (see fig. 4). During operation of the wiper system 100, the wiper arm 110 having the wiper arm members 112, 114 including the adapters 160, 162 and the drive gears 132, 134 rotates in a first direction at the same first (speed) rate. The rocker 140 having the rocker members 142, 144 and the positioning cogs 136, 138 rotates in a second direction opposite the first direction at the same second (speed) rate that is higher than the first rate of the wiper arm members 112, 114 and the drive gears 132, 134. The rocker members 142, 144 are configured such that they rotate about the axis of the bolt 148 during the wiper stroke 104. The back plate 150 does not rotate during operation.

Wiper stroke 104, as used herein, includes the cycle of reciprocating oscillating motion of the wiper arm 110 and the wiper blade 120 as the wiper system 100 operates. The pivoting wiper arm 110 moves from one side of the (windshield) surface 102 to the other, wherein the cycle of reciprocating oscillating motion includes such a movement of the wiper arm 110 from one side to the other.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the angular position of the pivoting wiper arm 110 is used to change or modify the height of the wiper blade 120 during the wiper stroke 104 such that the arc of the path of motion 320 of the wiper blade 120 is reduced (see fig. 4). The height of the wiper blade 120 is used herein as the position of the wiper blade 120 on the surface 102 in the vertical direction Y. The position of the wiper blade 120 in the vertical direction Y is reduced or lowered such that the wiper blade 120 provides more coverage in a lower center area of the surface 102 during the stroke 104.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a portion of a vehicle 300 including a windshield wiper system 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

The vehicle 300 may be a motor or non-motor vehicle, such as a rail vehicle; motor vehicles including cars, coach cars and buses; a vessel; an aircraft; spacecraft, and the like. Embodiments disclosed herein are primarily described in conjunction with, for example, rail vehicles, such as trams, light rail vehicles, automated (airport) shuttles, subways, commuter trains, EMUs (motor trains), DMUs (diesel motor trains), high speed trains, and the like.

The vehicle 300 includes the windshield wiper system 100 described in detail with reference to fig. 1, 2, and 3. Surface 102 is the windshield of vehicle 300. The connector assembly 128 couples the pivoting wiper arm 110 to the wiper blade 120.

Fig. 4 illustrates a conventional path of motion 310 for a conventional wiper system and a reduced arc path of motion 320 for an improved wiper system 100 as disclosed herein. During the wiper stroke 104, the wiper arm 110 moves the wiper blade 120 in a horizontal direction X (i.e., from one side of the windshield surface 102 to the other) and in a vertical direction Y, which forms a path of motion 320.

The wiper system 100 is configured such that the path of motion 320 of the wiper blade 120 is modified and includes a smaller arc than the arc of the conventional path of motion 310. This modification and reduction of the arc of the path of motion 320 is accomplished by the connector assembly 128, which includes the gear drive 130 that couples the wiper arm 110 to the wiper blade 120.

based on the angle α, the angular position of the pivoting wiper arm 110 changes the height of the wiper blade 120 of the connector assembly 130 during the wiper stroke 104 such that the arc of the path of motion 320 is reduced. The height of the wiper blade 120 is used herein as the position of the wiper blade 120 on the surface 102 in the vertical direction Y. The position of the wiper blade 120 in the vertical direction Y is reduced or lowered such that the wiper blade 120 provides more coverage in a lower center area of the surface 102 during the stroke 104.

Fig. 5 and 6 show multiple views of a windshield wiper system 100 in different positions according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 5 shows the wiper system 100 in the park position. In the park position, the wiper arm 110 and the pendulum 140 are at their furthest angle (see angle α of fig. 4). The gear drive 130 moves the rocker 140 to the highest and farthest positions of the rocker on the surface 102 of the windshield. As the wiper arm 110 moves inward and rearward toward the center of the surface 102, the gear drive 130 rotates the pendulum 140 downward on the surface 102, thereby providing better coverage and cleaning in the lower center portion of the surface 102.

Fig. 6 shows the wiper system 100 in a central position. When the wiper blade 120 is centered on the windshield surface 102, the wiper arm 110, the wiper blade 120, and the rocker 140 are aligned. The gear drive 130 has rotated or pulled the wiper blade 120 in the vertical direction Y to its lowest position to provide good wiping coverage in the lower central region of the windshield surface 102. At this time, the wiper blade 120 achieves a maximum distance below the conventional path 310. After the wiper blade 120 has passed the center position and during the movement of the wiper blade 120 toward the side(s) of the windshield surface 102, the gear drive 130 rotates or moves the oscillating lever 140 to its uppermost position (upward) in the vertical direction Y.

With the improved wiper system 100, the movement of the wiper blade 120 in the vertical direction Y is modified (the vertical movement is smaller or reduced) because a portion of the vertical movement is transferred from the wiper blade 120 to the connector assembly 128. Thus, more wiper coverage is provided in the lower center area of the surface 102, which improves visibility for the operator of the vehicle 300.

The exemplary embodiments described herein are illustrative, and many variations may be introduced without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims. For example, elements and/or features of different exemplary embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of this disclosure and appended claims.