DEVICE FOR CONDUCTING A FLUID TO A WIPER ARM OF AN AUTOMOBILE, WIPER ARM, AND WIPER ARM UNIT OF AN AUTOMOBILE, WHICH IN PARTICULAR HAVE SUCH A DEVICE, AND A METHOD FOR PRODUCING A DEVICE FOR CONDUCTING A FLUID TO A WIPER ARM OF AN AUTOMOBILE

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for guiding a fluid on a wiper arm of an automobile, wherein the device encompasses at least one channel and a heating wire, wherein a heating wire extending along the channels is arranged on two channels.

Claims

1. A device for guiding a fluid on a wiper arm of an automobile, wherein the device encompasses at least one channel and a heating wire, characterized in that a heating wire extending along the channels is arranged on two channels.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the two channels have allocated to them two spaced apart openings for the fluid to pass through, and the heating wire extends between the two channels.

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that a nozzle is formed at least on one opening.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the channels exhibit a ring segment shaped progression and/or run essentially parallel to each other.

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating wire is designed as a single piece.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating wire is at least partially situated in the channels.

7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating wire is fixed in place by means of a spacer element.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the spacer element comprises a closure of the channel for the fluid.

9. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the spacer element is situated in the area of at least one opening for the fluid to pass through.

10. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the spacer element is thermally conductive.

11. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the spacer element exhibits a cast-in plastic and/or a guiding element, which encompasses two connectable elements.

12. A wiper arm of an automobile exhibiting a device according to claim 1.

13. A wiper arm unit of an automobile exhibiting a device according to claim 1 and a wiper blade.

14. A method for manufacturing a device for guiding a fluid to a wiper arm of an automobile, in particular according to claim 1, in which a heating wire is situated on two channels for supplying the fluid.

15. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the channels exhibit a ring segment shaped progression and/or run essentially parallel to each other.

16. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the heating wire is designed as a single piece.

17. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the heating wire is at least partially situated in the channels.

18. A wiper arm of an automobile exhibiting a device according to claim 2.

19. A wiper arm unit of an automobile exhibiting a device according to claim 2 and a wiper blade.

20. A method for manufacturing a device for guiding a fluid to a wiper arm of an automobile, in particular according to claim 2, in which a heating wire is situated on two channels for supplying the fluid.

Description

[0027] The invention will be explained below based on exemplary embodiments shown on the drawings.

[0028] Shown on:

[0029] FIG. 1 is a first exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0030] FIG. 2 is a second exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0031] FIG. 3 is a third exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0032] FIG. 4 is a fourth exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0033] FIG. 5 is a partial area of a fifth exemplary embodiment of the invention in an inclined, frontal isometric view;

[0034] FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of the exemplary embodiment on FIG. 5 as viewed at an inclination from above;

[0035] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the exemplary embodiment on FIG. 5;

[0036] FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view from the side of the exemplary embodiment on FIG. 5; and

[0037] FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view from above of the exemplary embodiment on FIG. 5.

[0038] FIG. 1 presents a schematic illustration of a device for guiding a fluid on a wiper arm of an automobile. The device exhibits two channels 1, 2, through which a heating wire 3 extends. The ends 4, 5 of the heating wire 3 can be contacted with a voltage source and exposed to a voltage. At the ends 6, 7 of the channels 1, 2, the channels 1, 2 can be supplied with a fluid, which can be pressurized. Situated between the channels 1, 2 is a spacer element 8, which separates the channels 1, 2, and, on their end sides, spaced apart from the ends 6, 7, essentially closes them off from the fluid, and fixes the heating wire 3 in place. Openings 9, 10 are formed in the area of the spacer element 8, and configured for the fluid to pass through as it exits the respective channel 1, 2 into the environment. The openings 9, 10 for the fluid to pass through can exhibit nozzles.

[0039] The heating wire 3 is designed as a single piece, and extends over the two channels 1, 2. The channels 1, 2 can be impinged solely with a fluid simultaneously or alternatingly, so that fluid exits the device into the environment only at one of the two openings 9, 10 or at both of the two openings 9, 10.

[0040] In the embodiment shown on FIG. 1, the channels 1, 2 are formed by introducing the heating wire 3 with the spacer element 8 into a tube and aligning it therein. The tube was bent and given the shape depicted on FIG. 1.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of a device for guiding a fluid to a wiper arm of an automobile. The end side of the channels 1, 2 empties into an opening array 13, which exhibits several openings 9, 10, 11, 12 for the fluid to pass through. The opening array 13 incorporates a spacer element 8, on which the heating wire 3 is guided. In the exemplary embodiment depicted on FIG. 2, it is predetermined that the heating wire 3 lies in a trough, following its geometry. A defined spray pattern can be achieved by means of the openings 9, 10, 11, 12, which can exhibit nozzles.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of another embodiment that provides a spacer element 8, which guides the heating wire 3 between the two channels 1, 2. In the area of the ends of the two channels 1, 2, a defined position of the two channels 1, 2 relative to each other can be achieved by means of the spacer element 8. In the embodiment depicted on FIG. 3, the spacer element can take the form of a casting compound, or is present as a multipart spacer element 8, which exhibits spacer element sections that can be joined together. The spacer element sections can be detachably or non-detachably connected. The heating wire 3 can be clamped between the spacer element sections.

[0043] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of another embodiment of the device for guiding a fluid on a wiper arm of the automobile, in which another heating element 14 is provided in addition to the heating wire 3.

[0044] FIGS. 5 to 9 present views of a partial area of an exemplary embodiment of the invention as part of a wiper arm. The same reference numbers as for the exemplary embodiments described above are used, so long as the referenced elements are identical.

[0045] FIG. 5 is an isometric view at an inclination from the front. Formed on the wiper arm are openings 9, 10, which are designed for a fluid guided in the wiper arm to pass through into the open. The openings 9, 10 for the fluid to pass through can exhibit nozzles (see FIGS. 7 and 8). FIG. 5 depict the ends 4, 5 of a heating wire 3 guided in the wiper arm. In the exemplary embodiment shown on FIG. 5, the heating wire 3 is provided as a heating wire 3 insulated with a jacket, in which the ends 4, 5, which can be contacted with a voltage source and exposed to a voltage, are exposed, and the electrical conductor of the heating wire 3 is unsheathed and bare. As shown among other places on FIG. 6, the heating wire 3 extends as a single piece from end 4 to end 5 through a channel 1 and another channel 2 of the wiper arm. Opening 9 is allocated to channel 1, and opening 10 is allocated to channel 2. The channels 1, 2 can be supplied at the ends 6, 7 of the channels 1, 2 with a fluid, which can be pressurized and exit the openings 9, 10. The heating wire 3 can heat the fluid both in channel 1 and in channel 2. The heating wire 3 exhibits an essentially preformed, stable shape.

[0046] As evident from FIG. 7, which presents an exploded view of the exemplary embodiment shown on FIGS. 5 to 9, the preformed heating wire 3 can be placed into the wiper arm in such a way that the heating wire 3 can be inserted into an end of the wiper arm lying opposite the end of the wiper arm that exhibits the ends 6, 7 of the channels 1, 2. The channels 1, 2 are circumferentially closed in the longitudinal direction, and only their ends are bare.

[0047] The heating wire 3 exhibits an essentially U-shaped form with two elongated legs. A respective leg extends at least partially in one of the channels 1, 2. The heating wire 3 exhibits a bend in the area of the base, which is bent in the direction of the legs. The heating wire 3 exhibits a mirror symmetry relative to the middle of the base of the U. The ends 4, 5 of the heating wire 3 can be used to insert it into the channels 1, 2, and guide it through the latter.

[0048] The channels 1, 2 can be sealed on the end side at one end of the channel 1, 2 by means of a gasket 15, 16, through which the heating wire 3 can pass. The gaskets 15, 16 can be designed in such a way that the fluid does not wash around the heating wire 3 in the area of the base of the essentially U-shaped progression. Nozzles 17, 18 are provided for the openings 9, 11, while nozzles 19, 20 are correspondingly provided for the channel 2 or allocated openings 10, 12.

[0049] As evident from FIG. 8, the fluid present in the channel 1 can be heated by means of the heating wire that runs essentially in the middle of the channel 1. Channel sections 21, 22 extend from the channel 1 to the openings 9, 11.

[0050] Provided to fix the heating wire 3 in the wiper arm are two guiding elements 23, 24, which can accommodate the heating wire 3 between them, in particular in the area of the base 25 of the heating wire 3. To this end, a partial profile configured as a partial groove 29 (only a lower area of the heating wire 3 is enclosed) is formed both in the guiding element 23 and in the guiding element 24, and follows the progression of the preformed heating wire 3. A partial groove is also formed in the upper guiding element 24, and circumferentially envelops the upper area of the heating wire 3. In an assembled form, the guiding elements 23, 24 yield a channel for the heating wire 3 in the area of the base 25, as a result of which the heating wire 3 is fixed in place by the guiding elements 23, 24.

[0051] The guiding elements 23, 24 can be made to abut against corresponding contours in the wiper arm. In an assembled form, the heating wire 3 and guiding elements 23, 24 are inserted into the wiper arm, and aligned based on the abutting sections, which correspond with abutting sections of the guiding elements 23, 24. The guiding elements 23, 24 are fixed in place for the heating wire 3 on the wiper arm via a cap-shaped element 26, which can be designed as an end-side closing element of the wiper arm, which at least partially yields a closure for the wiper arm. In particular in order to fix the guiding elements 23, 24 in the wiper arm, the cap-shaped element 26 exhibits an arrow-shaped plug element 27, which can be inserted into a corresponding opening of a receptacle 28, so as to positively fix the guiding elements 23, 24 for the heating wire 3 on the wiper arm.