阅读说明：本技术 用于向泵的吸入侧供应空气的装置、具有这种装置的部件单元、以及刮水器系统 (Device for supplying air to the intake side of a pump, component unit having such a device, and wiper system ) 是由 迈尔克·巴斯 菲利克斯·法恩勒 沃尔夫冈·肖尔 于 2020-03-16 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于向刮水器系统(100)的泵(10)的吸入侧(12)供应空气的装置(50),所述装置(50)包括用于吸入空气的吸入通道(60),所述吸入通道(60)能够连接到泵(10)的吸入侧(12)。装置(50)实现为与泵(10)分开的部件,并且包括用于将装置(50)与用于洗涤流体(3)的供应容器(14)连接的连接区域(52),并且具有用于泵(10)的吸嘴(24)的附加连接区域(54),止回阀(62)设置在吸入通道(60)中,所述止回阀(62)被设计成根据泵(10)的吸嘴(24)上的负压(P)打开和关闭,由此,当所述止回阀(62)打开时,空气可以进入泵(10)的吸嘴(24)的区域,并且当止回阀(62)关闭时,不吸入空气。(The invention relates to a device (50) for supplying air to a suction side (12) of a pump (10) of a wiper system (100), the device (50) comprising a suction channel (60) for sucking in air, the suction channel (60) being connectable to the suction side (12) of the pump (10). The device (50) is realized as a separate component from the pump (10) and comprises a connection area (52) for connecting the device (50) with a supply container (14) for washing fluid (3) and has an additional connection area (54) for a suction nozzle (24) of the pump (10), a non-return valve (62) being provided in the suction channel (60), said non-return valve (62) being designed to open and close in dependence on a negative pressure (P) on the suction nozzle (24) of the pump (10), whereby, when said non-return valve (62) is open, air can enter the area of the suction nozzle (24) of the pump (10) and, when the non-return valve (62) is closed, no air is sucked in.)

1. A device (50) for supplying air to a suction side (12) of a pump (10) of a wiper system (100), the device (50) comprising a suction channel (60) for sucking in air, the suction channel (60) being connectable to the suction side (12) of the pump (10),

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the device (50) is realized as a separate component from the pump (10) and comprises a supply container for connecting the device (50) with a washing fluid (3)(14) A connecting area (52) connected and having an additional connecting area (54) for a suction nozzle (24) of the pump (10), a non-return valve (62) being arranged in the suction channel (60), said non-return valve (62) being realized as a function of a negative pressure (P) on the suction nozzle (24) of the pump (10)₁) Open and close, whereby air can enter the area of the suction nozzle (24) of the pump (10) when said check valve (62) is open and no air is sucked when the check valve (62) is closed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are disposed on opposite sides of the housing,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the suction channel (60) comprises a first section (61) in which the non-return valve (62) is arranged, and the first section (61) is connected with a second section (66) which forms part of an additional connection area (54) for a suction nozzle (24) of the pump (10).

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first and second electrodes are disposed in a common plane,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the second section (66) is realized as a suction nozzle (24) radially surrounding the pump (10) by forming a supply gap (68) which is connected to the suction side (12) of the pump (10).

4. The device according to one of claims 1 to 3,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

an element (56) is arranged in the additional connection region (54), said element (56) comprising a cross-sectional constriction (58) which serves as a throttle for the washing fluid (3).

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first and second electrodes are disposed on opposite sides of the substrate,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the element (56) is sleeve-shaped and is arranged in a sealing manner in the additional connecting region (54).

6. The device according to one of claims 1 to 5,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the check valve (62) is designed as a duckbill valve.

7. The device according to one of claims 1 to 6,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the device (50) has a base body (51) which is made of plastic and is realized as an injection-molded part.

8. The device according to one of claims 1 to 7,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

a filter element (65) is arranged on the side of the non-return valve (62) facing away from the intake channel (60).

9. Component unit (30) comprising a pump (10) for sucking in washing fluid (3) from a supply container (14), said pump (10) comprising a suction nozzle (24) and a device (50) for supplying air and realized according to one of claims 1 to 8, said suction nozzle (24) of the pump (10) protruding into an additional connection area (54) of the device (50).

10. A component unit (20) comprising a supply container (14) for a washing fluid (3) and a device (50) for supplying air and realized according to one of claims 1 to 8, the opening (22) of the supply container (14) enclosing the connection area (52) of the device (50) in a sealing manner.

11. Wiper system (100) for cleaning a vehicle window (1), having a supply container (14) for a washing fluid (3), having a pump (10) for taking in the washing fluid (3) from the supply container (14), and having at least one duct (5) for supplying a cleaning medium (2) from a pressure side (8) of the pump (10) to a spraying device (110) which is realized for spraying the cleaning medium (2) onto the vehicle window (1) in a wiping area of at least one wiper blade (105, 106), and a suction side (12) of the pump (10) being connected at least indirectly to a device (50) for supplying air in addition to the washing fluid (3) such that air can be taken in from the pump (10) via the suction side (12) of the pump (10) in order to generate a foam-like cleaning medium (2) from the washing fluid (3) and air on the pressure side (8),

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the device (50) for supplying air comprises a non-return valve (62) which is realized as a function of the underpressure (P) on the suction side (12) of the pump (10)₁) Open and close, whereby air can enter the area of the suction nozzle (24) of the pump (10) when said check valve (62) is open and no air is sucked when the check valve (62) is closed.

12. The wiper system as set forth in claim 11,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the pump (10) is realized to foam the washing fluid (3) together with the sucked-in air, preferably via at least one vane element or the like.

13. The wiper system according to claim 11 or 12,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the pump (10) is realized as a vane pump.

14. The wiper system according to one of claims 10 to 13,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the spray device (110) comprises at least one spray nozzle (108) integrated in the at least one wiper blade (105, 106).

15. The wiper system according to one of claims 10 to 13,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the spray device (110) comprises at least one spray nozzle (109) separate from the at least one wiper blade (105, 106).

Background

The invention relates to a device for supplying air to the intake side of a pump of a wiper system, having the features of the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to a component unit having a device according to the invention and to a wiper system.

A device for supplying air to the intake side of a pump having the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known from DE 102018113951 a1, which is subsequently published by the applicant. Known devices are used to supply air to the pump on the intake side of the pump, so that the pump mixes the liquid cleaning medium drawn in with the air and can deliver it as cleaning foam into the window area. The use of such a cleaning foam instead of a liquid cleaning medium has the advantage that the consumption of cleaning medium is reduced with equal cleaning performance, which for example leads to a reduction in the overall size and weight of the storage container for the (liquid) cleaning medium. For this purpose, in the known device this is provided as an integral component of the suction side or suction nozzle of the pump. In other words, this means that the suction nozzle of the pump connected to the pump is simultaneously designed for supplying air.

Disclosure of Invention

The device according to the invention for supplying air to the suction side of a pump of a wiper system having the features of claim 1 has the advantage that it is formed as a component separate from the pump or the suction nozzle of the pump and is therefore suitable for pumps which normally do not provide an air supply to the suction side or which have a conventional suction nozzle. As a result, a modular system is made possible, wherein one and the same pump with one and the same suction nozzle is in the first case used only in a conventional manner for supplying the liquid cleaning medium, and in the other case can be configured by means of the device according to the invention for supplying the cleaning foam.

On this background, the teaching of claim 1 according to the invention therefore proposes that the device for supplying air is designed as a separate component from the pump and comprises a connection region for connecting the device to a supply container for washing fluid and an additional connection region for a suction nozzle of the pump, and that a check valve is arranged in the suction channel for air, which check valve is designed to open and close in dependence on the underpressure on the suction nozzle of the pump, wherein air can enter the region of the suction nozzle of the pump when the check valve is open and is not sucked in when the check valve is closed.

The check valve can be designed as a spring-loaded check valve or as a check valve in the form of a so-called duckbill valve which is loaded in the closing direction by the ambient pressure. In the first type of valve, the closing force acting on the check valve consists of the closing force of the spring and the pressure difference between the side of the check valve connected to the suction side of the pump and the ambient pressure.

Thus, such a configuration according to the teachings of the present invention not only allows to design the device according to the present invention as a separate component that can be adapted to the pump, but also to control the air entering the suction side of the pump by varying the pressure on the check valve, wherein a reverse flow of air or cleaning fluid from the check valve to the surroundings is avoided.

Advantageous developments of the device according to the invention for supplying air to the suction side of a pump of a wiper system are listed in the dependent claims.

In a preferred design configuration of the device, it is provided that the suction channel comprises a first section in which the check valve is arranged and which is connected to a second section which forms part of an additional connection region for a suction nozzle of the pump.

In a last-proposed development, it is provided that the second section of the suction channel is designed to radially surround a suction nozzle of the pump to form a supply gap, wherein the supply gap is connected to the suction side of the pump. This arrangement has the particular advantage that no holes or the like have to be provided in the device for the passage of air from the non-return valve in the direction of the suction side of the pump. Instead, the supply gap may in particular be formed by a longitudinal groove in the additional connection area of the means for supplying air and the outer circumference of the suction nozzle of the pump.

A further preferred improvement relates to the fluid guidance of the liquid to be sucked in such a way that the liquid is accelerated in the direction of the suction nozzle during the suction. As a result of the acceleration, a reduced pressure compared to the ambient or atmospheric pressure is achieved, which acts all the way to the check valve and allows air to be sucked into the check valve. To this end, the device provides an element comprising a cross-sectional constriction which serves as a throttle for the washing fluid to be arranged in the additional connection region. It is also mentioned that by means of the cross section or the hole diameter in the throttle valve, the volume of air sucked in by the non-return valve and thus also the foam composition can be influenced.

In order to be able to adapt the throttling very easily to the respective use case or the respective pump without the use of separate (injection) tools for this device, it can be provided that the element (with the cross-sectional constriction) is sleeve-shaped and is arranged in a sealing manner in the additional connection region.

In a preferred development of the check valve, the check valve is designed as a duckbill valve.

In a preferred development of the device for supplying air, the device has a base body made of a rubber material or a thermoplastic elastomer, so that a separate element serving as a seal against the tank can be dispensed with.

In order to avoid foreign bodies or the like being sucked in via the device and reaching the suction side of the pump and thus impairing the function of the pump, it can additionally be provided, for example, that a filter element is provided on the side of the non-return valve facing away from the suction channel.

The invention also comprises a component unit comprising a pump for sucking in washing fluid from a supply container, wherein the pump has a suction nozzle, and a device according to the invention described in this context, wherein the suction nozzle of the pump protrudes into an additional connection region of the device. In other words, this means that the component unit is formed by two components, firstly the pump and secondly the device according to the invention, wherein the two separate components are connected to each other via the suction nozzle of the pump.

Alternatively, the invention also comprises a component unit comprising a supply container for washing fluid and a device according to the invention described in this context, wherein an opening of the supply container seals a connection region surrounding the device. Such a component unit, which likewise consists of two separate components connected to each other, can then be assembled on the suction nozzle of the pump to form an integral unit.

The invention further relates to a wiper system for cleaning a vehicle window, having a supply container for a washing fluid, having a pump for taking in the washing fluid from the supply container, and having at least one duct for supplying the cleaning medium from a pressure side of the pump to a spraying device, wherein the spraying device is designed to spray the cleaning medium onto the vehicle window in a wiping area of at least one wiper blade, and wherein a suction side of the pump is connected at least indirectly to the device for supplying air, such that the suction side of the pump draws in air from the pump in addition to the washing fluid, in order to generate a foam-like cleaning medium from the washing fluid and air on the pressure side. The device for supplying air of a wiper system according to the invention has a non-return valve which is designed to open and close in dependence on the negative pressure on the suction side of the pump, wherein air can enter the suction nozzle area of the pump when the non-return valve is open and air is not sucked in when the non-return valve is closed.

In a development of the wiper system described in this context, it is provided that the pump is designed to foam the washing fluid together with the sucked-in air, preferably via at least one blade element or the like. For this purpose, it is provided in particular that the pump is designed as a vane cell pump.

There are also different configurations in the injection device of the wiper system. In a first configuration, the spray device may have at least one spray nozzle ("Aqua Blade") integrated in at least one wiper Blade. As an alternative to this, it can also be provided that the spray device has at least one spray nozzle separate from the at least one wiper blade.

Drawings

Further advantages, features and details of the invention can be taken from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments and by using the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a simplified illustration of a wiper system for cleaning a front window,

fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a component unit, comprising a supply container for cleaning medium and means for supplying air,

fig. 3 shows a component unit modified with respect to fig. 2, comprising a pump and a device for supplying air connected to a suction nozzle of the pump,

fig. 4 shows a subregion of the component unit according to fig. 3 in longitudinal section, and

fig. 5 shows a flow chart illustrating an action of sucking air by the apparatus for supplying air according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

In the figures, identical elements or elements having identical functions have identical reference numerals.

In fig. 1, important components of a wiper system 100 for cleaning a vehicle window 1 (a front window in an exemplary embodiment) are illustrated. The wiper system 100 comprises, for example, two wiper arms 102, 103, to which wiper blades 105, 106 are exchangeably fastened, which can be pivoted back and forth between a lower reversal position UT and an upper reversal position OT by means of a drive (windshield wiper motor), not shown, in order to clean the vehicle window 1.

In order to apply the cleaning medium 2 in the form of cleaning foam to the vehicle window 1, each of the two wiper blades 105, 106 has, for example, a plurality of nozzles 108 thereon spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction. As an alternative thereto, it can also be provided that each of the two wiper blades 105, 106 is assigned a nozzle 109 arranged in a fixed position. Both nozzles 108 and 109 thus form the spray device 110.

The cleaning medium 2 is supplied to the nozzles 108 and 109 by means of at least one hydraulic conduit in the form of a hose 5, which is connected to the pressure side 8 of the pump 10. The pump 10 sucks in the liquid washing fluid 3 stored in the supply container 14 via its suction side 12, additives, in particular foaming agents, being able to be added to the washing fluid 3. The pump 10 is formed as a vane cell pump and has for this purpose at least one vane (not shown) rotatably arranged in the pump 10. The pressure side 8 of the pump 10, which is designed in the form of a pressure nozzle, is located on one side of the pump 10, preferably just above the suction side 12. Furthermore, the pump 10 has a connection plug 9, which is only symbolically illustrated.

Various arrangements of the pump 10 with the supply container 14 will be explained below by using fig. 2 and 3. Fig. 2 shows a component unit 20 comprising a supply container 14 and a device 50 for supplying air from the suction side 12 of the pump 10. To this end, the supply container 14 has an opening 22 in one wall, into which the device 50 projects, the device 50 being sealed with respect to the opening 22. The component unit 20 may be completed by connecting the pump 10 to the device 50 to form a function-mounted unit for a vehicle. Importantly, the device 50 is formed as a separate component from the pump 10.

Fig. 3 shows a component unit 30 modified with respect to fig. 2, which, in addition to the pump 10, also comprises a device 50 for supplying air to the suction side 12 of the pump 10. The device 50 has on its outer periphery a connecting region 52 which is designed to be inserted into the opening 22 of the supply container 14 to form a sealed connection in order to thus complete a functional mounting unit for the vehicle. Here too, the device 50 is formed as a separate component from the pump 10.

Fig. 4 shows in an enlarged illustration the area of the device 50 and the end of the pump 10 facing the device 50 in the component unit 30. In particular, it can be seen that the device 50 has a base body 51 of rubber material or a thermoplastic elastomer, such as Santopren, which has an additional connection region 54 designed in the form of a passage opening, into which the suction side 12 of the pump 10 projects via the suction nozzle 24. In the additional connection region 54, in the longitudinal direction of the suction nozzle 24, a sleeve-shaped element 56 follows, which is formed as an injection-molded part made of plastic and whose outer circumference rests in a sealing manner on the wall of the additional connection region 54 of the device 50. The sleeve-shaped element 56 has a passage opening in the form of a cross-sectional constriction 58, via which the washing fluid 3 reaches the suction side 12 of the pump 10. Thus, from a fluid point of view, the cross-sectional constriction 58 forms a throttle for the washing fluid 3.

The device 50 has an intake channel 60 for supplying air to the intake side 12 of the pump 10. The suction channel 60 has a first section 61 which extends at right angles to the suction mouth 24 of the pump 10 and is arranged close to the pump housing 26 of the pump 10. A substantially at least partially conical check valve 62 is arranged in the first section 61, which check valve is designed in the form of a so-called duckbill valve, which allows air from the surroundings to be sucked into the suction channel 60. In order to avoid foreign bodies or dirt being sucked into the suction channel 60 via the check valve 62, the suction area of the check valve 62 is additionally covered by a filter element 65 on the side of the check valve 62 facing away from the suction side 12.

The first section 61 is connected to a second section 66 of the suction channel 60, which in turn is connected to the suction side 12 of the pump 10. By way of example, the second portion 66 is designed in the form of a longitudinal groove 68 in the additional connection region 54 of the device 50, which is arranged on the side of the suction nozzle 24 opposite the check valve 62. The second section 66 intersects the first section 61 of the suction channel 60 in the longitudinal direction of the additional connection region 54 and is thus connected to the first section 61. The second section 66 ends just below the suction nozzle 24 but in front of the sleeve-shaped element 56, so that air sucked in via the suction channel 60 can directly enter the suction nozzle 24.

When the check valve 62 is opened, (ambient) air enters via the suction channel 60 into the suction side 12 of the pump 10 or into the area of the suction nozzle 24, the pump 10 sucks in the washing fluid 3 from the supply container 14 via the sleeve-shaped element 56 while sucking in air. By mixing and swirling the washing fluid 3 with the air carried by the above-mentioned blade elements of the pump 10 (as a result of which foaming takes place in the desired manner), the washing fluid 3 reaches the pressure side 8 of the pump together with the air from the suction side 12 of the pump 10. The foam-like cleaning medium 2 under pressure is thus present on the pressure side 8 of the pump 10 in order to be delivered to the nozzles 108, 109.

During operation of the pump 10, in particular during continuous rotation of its vane elements, the check valve 62 is dependent on the pressure P occurring on the suction side 12 and the suction channel 16₁And the ambient pressure P occurring outside the check valve 62 and the device 50₂And based on the pressure P₁And P₂The generated force is periodically opened and closed. If the pump 10 is switched on, the pressure P on the suction side 12 and the suction channel 60₁Compared to the pressure P₂And begins to drop abruptly. This causes the check valve 62 to open, allowing ambient air to reach the suction side 12 or the suction nozzle 24 via the suction channel 60. This in turn causes a pressure P in comparison with switching on₁Decrease until P is still present₁And P₂The pressure difference therebetween is excessively compensated so that the check valve 62 is closed. This in turn causes a sudden pressure drop on the suction side 12, i.e. the pressure P₁And then lowered in such a manner that the check valve 62 is opened again. This relationship between the cyclic opening and closing of the check valve 62 and thus the cyclic suction of ambient air in the direction of the suction side 12 of the pump 10 is shown in fig. 5. The cyclic opening and closing of check valve 62 (value a) over time t is shown. In the illustrated example, the recycle ratio associated with this example is 1:4, i.e., 25% of the check valve 62 is open during operation of the pump 10.

The wiper device 100 and the device 50 described within this range can be modified in various ways without departing from the idea of the invention. It is essential to the invention that the device 50 is formed as a separate component from the pump 10 and the supply container 14, the device 50 being arranged as an intermediate element between the supply container 14 and the pump 10.

List of reference numerals

1 vehicle window

2 cleaning media

3 washing fluid

5 pipeline

8 pressure side

9 connecting plug

10 Pump

12 suction side

14 supply container

16 blade

20 parts unit

22 opening

24 suction nozzle

26 Pump casing

30 parts unit

50 device for supplying air

51 base body

52 connection region

54 additional connection area

56 sleeve-shaped element

58 cross-sectional constriction

60 suction channel

61 first section

62 check valve

65 Filter element

66 second section

68 longitudinal grooves

100 wiper system

102 wiper arm

103 wiper arm

105 wiper blade

106 wiper blade

108 nozzle

109 nozzle

110 spray device

Reverse position under UT

Reverse position on OT

P₁Pressure of

P₂Ambient pressure