FASTENING ARRANGEMENT FOR A WIPER BEARING OF A WINDSCREEN WIPER SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a fastening arrangement (10) comprising a wiper bearing (11) of a windscreen wiper arrangement of a vehicle. Said wiper bearing (11) comprises a bearing element (13) having a planar first side (28); a bearing section which protrudes from the first side (28) of the bearing element (13) for guiding a wiper shaft (12); one or more gripping elements (19a, 19b) which are arranged on the bearing section (13a) and respectively comprising a gripping surface which is arranged parallel to the surface of the first side (28) of the bearing element (13).

Claims

1. A fastening arrangement (10) comprising a wiper bearing (11) of a windscreen wiper system of a vehicle, wherein the wiper bearing (11) comprises: a bearing element (13) having a planar first side (28); a bearing section which protrudes vertically from a first side (28) of the bearing element (13) for guiding a wiper shaft (12); and one or more gripping means (19a, 19b) which are arranged on the bearing section (13a) and respectively comprise a gripping surface which is arranged parallel to a surface of the first side (28) of the bearing element (13).

2. The fastening arrangement (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the gripping means (19a, 19b) are spaced from the first side (28) of the bearing element (13).

3. (canceled)

4. The fastening arrangement (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein a sheet metal body (40) which has a through-recess (21) with a contour is provided, so that the one or more gripping means (19a, 19b) may be passed through and by rotating the gripping means (19a, 19b) the sheet metal body (40) is retained between the one or more gripping means (19a, 19b) and the bearing element (13).

5. The fastening arrangement (10) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the one or more gripping means (19a, 19b) has a spacing relative to the first side (28) of the bearing element (13) which substantially corresponds to a material thickness of the sheet metal body (40).

6. The fastening arrangement (10) as claimed in claim 4, wherein an engagement means (20) is provided, said engagement means being received in a guide recess (24) when the one or more gripping means (19a, 19b) is passed through the through-recess (21).

7. The fastening arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein the guide recess (24) is configured with a stop, such that after rotating the bearing section by a predetermined angle, further rotation is blocked.

8. The fastening arrangement (10) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the guide recess (24) is configured with an engagement groove (26) so that after rotating the bearing section by the predetermined angle an engagement means (20) is latched in the engagement groove (26) and, as a result, the bearing section (13a) is blocked from rotating back.

9. The fastening arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the guide recess (24) comprises an arcuate groove (25), a radius thereof corresponding to a spacing between the engagement means (20) and the wiper shaft (12).

10. The fastening arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wiper bearing (11) is provided with a fastening lever (15), the wiper bearing (11) being able to be brought thereby from an initial mounted position into a final position.

11. The fastening arrangement as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that a retaining element (16) is arranged on the bearing element (13) or on the fastening lever (15), the wiper bearing (11) being able to be secured thereby to an articulated rod (17).

12. A windscreen wiper system for a vehicle, comprising a wiper bearing (11) which is rotatably arranged about a wiper shaft (12), characterized in that the wiper bearing (11) comprises a fastening arrangement (10) as claimed in claim 1.

13. The fastening arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein the guide recess (24) is configured with a stop, such that after rotating the bearing section by 90°, further rotation is blocked.

14. The fastening arrangement as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that a retaining element (16) is arranged on the bearing element (13) or on the fastening lever (15), the wiper bearing (11) being able to be secured thereby to an articulated rod (17) which is connected to a drive unit (33) for driving the wiper shaft (12).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Exemplary embodiments are described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the schematic figures:

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the wiper bearing in the mounted position with a through-recess provided on the vehicle side, the wiper bearing with the assigned gripping means being able to be inserted therein;

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a view of the wiper bearing in the mounted position corresponding to FIG. 1;

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a plan view in the installed position of the fastening arrangement of a wiper bearing in the mounted position, the gripping means being inserted in said mounted position into the through-recess provided on the vehicle side;

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a plan view similar to FIG. 3, wherein the wiper bearing is shown rotated from the mounted position into an intermediate position;

[0033] FIG. 5 shows also a plan view similar to FIG. 3, wherein the wiper bearing is shown in a final position rotated by 90° relative to the mounted position; and

[0034] FIG. 6 shows a view similar to FIG. 3 in the installed position viewed from below, in the final position with the gripping and engagement means arranged on the wiper bearing, said gripping and engagement means together with the wiper bearing being shown rotated by 90° relative to the mounted position and connecting the wiper bearing to the vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] FIGS. 1 and 2 show different views of a fastening arrangement 10 for a wiper bearing 12 in a position immediately before mounting. The wiper bearing 11 is configured so as to be rotatable about a wiper shaft 12. The wiper shaft 12 serves, for example, for receiving wiper arms of a windscreen wiper system (not shown).

[0036] The wiper bearing 11 substantially comprises a planar bearing element 13 with a first side 28 having a bearing surface of planar configuration and a bearing section 13a. The bearing section 13a protrudes from the bearing element 13, substantially vertically from the first side 28, and is configured in the shape of a sleeve. The wiper shaft 12 is rotatably mounted in the sleeve-shaped bearing element 13. The bearing element 13 and the bearing section 13a may be fixedly connected together, for example by bonding or the like, or integrally configured.

[0037] The bearing element 13 may be provided with a fastening lever 15 which protrudes transversely from the bearing element 13, in particular vertically to the axial direction of the bearing section 13a. For example, the fastening lever 15 may be arranged on a second side 14 of the bearing element 13 opposing the first side 28, and protrude over an edge 31 of the bearing element 13.

[0038] For driving the wiper arm coupled to the wiper shaft 12, an articulated rod 17 is provided. The articulated rod 17 is operatively connected to the wiper shaft 12 via a coupling lever 18, so that a translational movement of the articulated rod 17 may be converted into a rotation of the wiper shaft 12.

[0039] The bearing section 13a is fixedly connected to the wiper bearing 11 and rotatable therewith coaxially about the longitudinal axis. The bearing section 13a serves as a bearing for the wiper shaft 12 so that the wiper bearing 11 is coaxially rotatable about the wiper shaft 12. The bearing section 13a also serves for guidance, for the insertion of the wiper bearing 11 into a through-recess 21 of a sheet metal body 40, the wiper bearing 12 being intended to be attached thereto. As a result, canting or jamming is prevented during mounting.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 2, on the bearing section 13a wing-like gripping means 19a, 19b are integrally formed or fastened thereto, wherein the gripping means 19a, 19b are able to be rotated together with the wiper bearing 11 coaxially about the wiper shaft 12. The wing-like gripping means 19a, 19b are arranged opposing one another in a linear manner on the bearing section 13a. The gripping means 19a, 19b are arranged with surfaces substantially parallel to the bearing surface of the bearing element 13.

[0041] The arrangement of the gripping means 19a, 19b is reinforced via respective reinforcing ribs 32a, 32b. The reinforcing ribs 32a, 32b are configured in order to reinforce the connection of the gripping means 19a, 19b to the bearing section 13a and in each case are arranged between the gripping means 19a, 19b and a portion of the bearing section 13a opposing the bearing element 13.

[0042] An engagement means 20 may be provided on the bearing element 13 or connected thereto. The engagement means 20 may, for example, protrude from the first side 28 of the bearing element in the axial direction, for example as a latching lug. For example, the engagement means 20 may be arranged on a region of the bearing element 13 which opposes the protruding direction of the fastening lever 15. Overall the engagement means 20 is arranged with a spacing from the bearing section 13a which is larger than the radial extent of the wing-like gripping means 19a, 19b from an axis of the bearing section 13a. The engagement means 20 may be integrally formed on the bearing element 13 or fastened thereto in a different manner.

[0043] On the vehicle side the sheet metal body 40 is provided with a guide recess 24 which has an arcuate curved groove 25 through the sheet metal body 40 which is continuous or discontinuous. When inserting the wiper bearing 11 into the through-recess 21 of the sheet metal body, the engagement means 20 comes into engagement with the groove 25, so that during a rotation of the wiper bearing 11 the engagement means 20 may be guided in the groove 25. The curvature of the arcuate groove 25 is determined by the spacing of the engagement means 20 toward the wiper shaft 12. The guide recess 24 also has an engagement groove 26 which is arranged at one end of the groove 25.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 2, the gripping means 19, 19a have a spacing 27 from the lower face 28 of the bearing element 13. The spacing 27 is selected such that it corresponds to the material thickness of the sheet metal body 40.

[0045] The sheet metal body 40 has a through-recess 21. The through-recess 21 has a central opening 22, two opposing wing-shaped opening portions 23a, 23b being adjoined thereto. The central opening 22 permits the receiving of the bearing section 13a and is correspondingly adapted thereto in its contour. The wing-shaped opening portions 23a, 23b adjoining the central opening 22 are slightly widened toward their end regions. The wing-shaped opening portions 23a, 23b permit the receiving of the wing-shaped gripping means 19a, 19b and are correspondingly adapted thereto in their contour, so that they are able to be passed through the opening portions 23a, 23b.

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a plan view in the installed position of the fastening arrangement according to the invention of a wiper bearing 11 in the mounted position, in which the gripping means 19a, 19b and engagement means 20 are inserted in the through-recess 21 and/or the guide recess 24 provided on the vehicle side in the sheet metal body 40.

[0047] Moreover, a drive unit 33, for example an electric motor, which is arranged on a carrier means 34 is shown. The carrier means 34 is provided with fastening points 35, the carrier means 34 being able to be fastened thereon to a body part of the vehicle (not shown), for example a further sheet metal body.

[0048] The drive unit 33 is connected to the articulated rod 17, via deflection means 36 on the first protruding end 37 thereof. The deflection means 36 convert the rotational movement of the drive unit 11 into a forward and rearward linear movement which is transmitted to the articulated rod 17. On a second end 38 opposing a first end 39, the articulated rod 17 is connected to the coupling lever 18. The coupling lever 18 is operatively connected to the wiper shaft 12 so that a linear movement of the articulated rod 17 is converted into a periodic rotational movement of the wiper shaft 12.

[0049] So that the wiper bearing 11 is retained for transport and/or before installation in the mounted position and is not intentionally rotated about the wiper shaft 12, a retaining element 16 is provided on the bearing element 13 or the fastening lever 15. The retaining element 16 in this case is arranged on the bearing surface of the bearing element 13 or the fastening lever 15 such that by means of the retaining element 16 the entire wiper bearing 11 is blocked in a mounted position on the articulated rod 17. The retaining element 16 may be configured, for example, as a resilient latching element. Thus it may protrude in a resilient arcuate manner from the fastening lever 15 in the direction of the articulated rod 17, and in the latched state the arcuate retaining element 16 is able to grip over the articulated rod 17 and retain the fastening lever and thus the bearing element 13 in a fixed position relative to the articulated rod 17.

[0050] In the mounted position the wing-like gripping means 19a, 19b oppose the wing-shaped opening portions 23a, 23b relative to the axial direction of the wiper shaft 12, so that with an axial displacement the wing-like gripping means 19, 19a are able to pass through the wing-shaped opening portions 23a, 23b.

[0051] FIG. 3 and the subsequent FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate the sequence of movement for securing the wiper bearing 11 to a vehicle by means of a combined rotary and latched connection for the purpose of a bayonet closure.

[0052] The view of FIG. 3 shows a state after inserting the wiper bearing into the through-opening 21, so that the wing-like gripping means 19a, 19b pass through the wing-shaped opening portions 23a, 23b and the first side 28 of the bearing element 13 bears against the surface of the sheet metal body 40.

[0053] When actuating the fastening lever 15 the retaining element 16 is released from the articulated rod 17 and the wiper bearing 11 may be pivoted from the mounted position into an intermediate position according to FIG. 4 about the wiper shaft 12, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 3. In this case the wing-like gripping means 19a, 19b move or slide along the lower face 41 of the sheet metal body 40 opposing the bearing surface of the bearing section 13.

[0054] FIG. 5 shows the fastening arrangement 10 in a final position in which the wiper bearing 11 has been inserted in the through-recess 21 of the sheet metal body 40 and the guide recess 24 and is fixedly connected to the sheet metal body 40. In the final position the engagement means 20 is rotated relative to the mounted position, in particular by 90°, and latched to the engagement groove 26 of the sheet metal body 40. The engagement groove 26 may be arranged such that it extends parallel to the longitudinal direction 14a of the bearing surface 13 of the wiper bearing 11 in the final position. In particular, the engagement groove 26 is arranged such that the engagement means 20 latches therein, when the wing-like gripping means 19a, 19b after insertion in the through-opening 21 have been rotated by a predetermined angle, in particular by 90°, by the actuation of the fastening lever 15.

[0055] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the wiper bearing 11 in the installed position, viewed from the direction of the sheet metal body 40 with the gripping means 19a, 19b in the final position. The bearing section 13a with the gripping means 19a, 19b and the engagement means 20 are inserted into the through-recess 21 and/or the guide recess 24.

[0056] The gripping means 19a, 19b form a bearing surface and by rotating the wiper bearing 11, in particular by 90°, said gripping means are brought into an operative connection with the lower face 41 of the sheet metal body 40. In this case the gripping means 19a, 19b engage behind the sheet metal body 40 and, as a result, form a non-positive connection. By the engagement of the engagement means 20 in the engagement groove 26 an undesirable movement of the wiper bearing 11 from the final position back into the mounted position is prevented.

[0057] As a result, a fastening arrangement 10 for a wiper bearing 11 is provided, by a rotation about the wiper shaft 12 the gripping means 19a, 19b being non-positively connected thereby to the fastening region 42 during mounting. By the simultaneous and/or subsequent engagement of the engagement means 20 into the engagement groove 26, when reaching the final position, the wiper bearing 11 is fixedly connected to the sheet metal body 40 in the lateral and vertical directions.