WIPER SYSTEM FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A wiper system is disclosed for a motor vehicle, and includes a longitudinally extended multi-part support having first and second longitudinally extended support arms. The second support arm is oriented in an imaginary extension to the first support arm and connected to the first support arm. A fastening element for fastening the support to a body of the motor vehicle is in each case arranged on the longitudinal ends, which face away from one another, of first and second support arm. A first wiper bearing is arranged on at least one of the longitudinal ends of first and second support arm.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A wiper system for arrangement on a motor vehicle comprising: a longitudinally extended multi-part support including a first longitudinally extended support arm and a second longitudinally extended support arm oriented in an imaginary extension to the first support arm and connected to the first support arm; first and second fastening elements configured to fasten the multi-part support to a body of the motor vehicle, wherein the fastening elements are arranged on longitudinal ends, which face away from one another, of first and second support arm, respectively; and a first wiper bearing arranged on one of the longitudinal ends of first and second support arm.

17. The wiper system according to claim 16, wherein the first support arm and the second support arm are connected to one another with the first wiper bearing.

18. The wiper system according to claim 17, wherein the first wiper bearing comprises a connecting body extending between the longitudinal ends of the first and second support arms facing one another, of first and second support arm.

19. The wiper bearing according to claim 18, wherein the first wiper bearing further comprises a bearing section protruding laterally away from the connecting body and having a bearing bushing configured to receive a wiper spindle.

20. The wiper system according to claim 16, further comprising a second wiper bearing, wherein at least one of the fastening elements is connected in one piece to the second wiper bearing.

21. The wiper system according to claim 16, further comprising a second wiper bearing, wherein the first wiper bearing is connected to the first fastening element and the second wiper bearing is connected to the second fastening element.

22. The wiper system according to claim 16, wherein the fastening elements comprise a connecting section for connection to one of the support arms, a fastening section for fastening to the body, and a bearing section including a bearing bushing configured to receive a wiper spindle.

23. The wiper system according to claim 16, wherein an opposite longitudinal end of the first support arm and an opposite longitudinal end of the second support arm are configured to be selectively connected to one of the fastening elements or the first wiper bearing.

24. The wiper system according to claim 16, wherein the first support arm has a first longitudinal extension that is shorter than a second longitudinal extension of the second support arm.

25. The wiper system according claim 16, further comprising a drive having a first wiper spindle and a second wiper spindle, which is in operative connection running in parallel with the drive.

26. The wiper system according to claim 25, further comprising a coupling rod, wherein the drive is arranged on the first support arm via the coupling rod.

27. The wiper system according to claim 16, wherein the wiper system is configurable for a left-hand drive vehicle or for a right-hand drive vehicle, wherein for a left-hand drive vehicle, the first support arm is configured to be fastened to a left side of the body and wherein for a right-hand drive vehicle, the first support arm is configured to be fastened to a right side of the body, and wherein the first support arm is in each case supported on an opposite side of the body via the second support arm.

28. A motor vehicle body comprising a body component and a wiper system according to claim 16 fastened to the body component.

29. The motor vehicle body according to claim 28, wherein the body component comprises first and second front suspension strut top mountings, which are spaced apart from one another in transverse vehicle direction (y), wherein the longitudinal ends of the first and second support arm, which face away from one another, are fastened to the first and second front suspension strut top mountings.

30. A motor vehicle comprising a motor vehicle body according to claim 29.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a motor vehicle embodied as passenger vehicle;

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a perspective isolated illustration of the basic structure of a wiper system embodied for a left-hand drive vehicle;

[0035] FIG. 3 shows an illustration, which corresponds to FIG. 2, but for a right-hand drive vehicle;

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a further illustration of the wiper system according to FIG. 2, but with drive and coupling rods;

[0037] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged illustration of the illustration according to FIG. 4;

[0038] FIG. 6 shows a perspective illustration of a front area of a body-in-white without wiper system; and

[0039] FIG. 7 shows an illustration according to FIG. 6, but with a wiper system according to FIG. 4 arranged thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description.

[0041] The motor vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 1 is embodied as passenger vehicle. It has a self-supporting motor vehicle body 2 including an interior 3, which acts as passenger compartment. The front carriage 4 of the motor vehicle body 2 is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 in perspective illustration. The arrow F hereby specifies the direction of motion of the motor vehicle. The front carriage 4 serves for receiving a front engine (not shown). The front carriage 4 has two longitudinally extending longitudinal supports 5, 6, which run parallel to one another and which are arranged on the left and on the right side of the vehicle. The ends of the longitudinal supports 5, 6, which emerge forwards from a front wall 8, are structurally connected to one another via a bumper cross beam 7.

[0042] In the transition area to the front wall 8, which separates the engine compartment and the interior 3 from one another, provision is made above the longitudinal supports for a left suspension strut mount 10 and a right suspension strut mount 11. The suspension strut mounts 10, 11 are supported on the respective left and right longitudinal support 5, 6 from the top. On their upper end, the suspension strut mounts 10, 11 in each case have a suspension strut top mounting 12, 13. The suspension strut top mountings 12, 13 serve to receive and fasten a suspension strut, which is connected to the undercarriage of the motor vehicle 1.

[0043] As illustrated in FIG. 7, a wiper system 20 is provided in the foot area of a front windscreen 9. The wiper system 20 has a first wiper arm 14 and a second wiper arm 16. On the free end, which faces away from a respective wiper spindle 56, 58, the wiper arms 14, 16 in each case have a wiper blade 15, 17, which rests against the windscreen 9 on the outside and which remove water located on the outside of the windscreen 9 during operation of the wiper system 20, in response to a movement of the wiper arms 14, 16 in pendulum fashion.

[0044] The wiper system 20 is illustrated separately in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, partly in an enlarged manner. The wiper system 20 has a longitudinally extended support 21. The longitudinally extended support 21 has a first support arm 22 as well as a second support arm 23. First and second support arm 22, 23 are arranged in alternating extension relative to one another. First and second support arm 22, 23 can be embodied as support pipes. They extend substantially parallel to one another. The second support arm 23 is in an imaginary extension to the longitudinal direction of the first support arm 22. Vice versa, the first support arm 22 is in an imaginary extension to the longitudinal orientation of the second support arm 23.

[0045] First and second support arm 22, 23 are fixedly connected to one another. The first support arm 22 and the second support arm 23 form the continuous longitudinally extended support 21. Due to the alternating fastening of first and second support arm 22, 23, the support is embodied to be compression-resistant as well as tension-resistant.

[0046] Fastening elements 24, 25 are in each case arranged on the exteriors, in particular on the end sections 31, 34, which face away from one another, of the support 21. The fastening element 24 is embodied as left fastening element. It is located on a left outer end of the support 21. The right fastening element 25 is embodied as right fastening element. It is accordingly located on a right outer end of the support 21. The fastening elements 24, 25 are fixedly connected to the support 21, thus to the respective support arms 22, 23.

[0047] The fastening elements 24, 25 serve for fastening to the body 2, in particular to the suspension strut top mountings 12, 13. Due to the fact that the fastening elements 24, 25 are fixedly connected to the support 21 and due to the fastening elements 24, 25 being fixedly connected to the suspension strut top mountings 12, 13, the support 21 of the wiper system 20 provide a connection, which is tension-resistant as well as compression-resistant, between the left and right suspension strut top mountings 12, 13. The body 2, thus the front carriage 4, can experience an additional strengthening and reinforcement in this respect.

[0048] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, the first support arm 22 and the second support arm 23 are connected to one another via a first wiper bearing 26. The first wiper bearing 26 has a connecting body 36 or a corresponding connecting section, respectively. Ends 32, 33, which face one another, of first support arm 22 and second support arm 23 are connected to one another by the connecting body 36. The connecting body 36 can have two insertion sections or locking pins, which can be inserted into bushings corresponding herewith on the longitudinal ends 32, 33 of first support arm 22 and second support arm 23.

[0049] The first and the second support arms 22, 23 can then be punched or pressed with the first wiper bearing 26, in particular with the connecting body 36 thereof. FIG. 5 shows the individual punching locations 60. They can be realized by electromagnetic forming, for example. The first support arm 22, the first wiper bearing 26 as well as the second support arm 23 are permanently connected to one another in a positive and/or non-positive manner in this way.

[0050] As is further shown in FIG. 5, the first wiper bearing 26 has a bearing section 38, which protrudes radially outwards from the connecting body 36 or upwards, respectively. In particular, a cylindrical bearing busing 39 is embodied in the bearing section 38. The bearing bushing serves to receive and rotatably support a wiper spindle 56. Provision is furthermore made between the opposite longitudinal ends 31, 32 of the first support arm 22 for a fastening rail 61 for the fastening of a drive 50 and for the fastening of a coupling rod 51 to the first support arm 22. The coupling rod 51 has a plurality of rods and joints. It is connected to the drive 50 via a crank 62. The coupling rod 51 is coupled to a first wiper spindle 56 as well as to a second wiper spindle 58. The first wiper arm 14 is arranged on the first wiper spindle 56 in a rotatably fixed manner, while the second wiper arm 16 is arranged on the second wiper spindle 58 in a rotatably fixed manner.

[0051] The fastening element 24 on the left longitudinal end 31 of the first support art 22 shown in FIG. 5 in an enlarged manner has a connecting section 41, a fastening section 42 and a bearing section 43. The connecting section 41 can be embodied in the form of a locking pin, which, similarly to the connecting body 36, is pressed or punched with a bushing on the left longitudinal end 31 of the first support arm 22. Corresponding punching locations 60 are also illustrated there. Being connected to the connecting section 41 in one piece, the fastening element 24 has a prolate or flattened fastening section 42 including individual passage openings 63. Those passage openings 63 serve to receive fastening means, for instance in the form of fastening screws, for connecting or screw-connecting, respectively, the fastening element 24 in an area of its fastening section 24, for example, to the left suspension strut top mounting 12.

[0052] Similar to the bearing section 38, the fastening element 24 also has a bearing section 43, which protrudes radially and upwards from the connecting section 41 and which is embodied to be largely flat, including a bearing bushing 44. The second wiper spindle 58 of the wiper system 20 is rotatably supported in that bearing bushing 44. The fastening element 24 thus acts as second wiper bearing 28.

[0053] The fastening element 25 provided on the other or opposite longitudinal end 34, respectively, of the second support arm 23, is embodied largely identical to the fastening element 24. It also has a connecting section 41, a fastening section 42 and a bearing section 43 including a bearing bushing 44, which is embodied for receiving the second wiper spindle 58. The fastening element 25 thus also acts as second wiper bearing 30.

[0054] Even though a bearing bushing 44 is provided on the right fastening element 24 in the left-hand drive embodiment of the wiper system 20 shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the bearing bushing is inoperable in that embodiment. All the supporting components of the wiper system 20, namely the first support arm 22, the second support arm 23 as well as the fastening elements 24, 25, can equally also be used for a wiper system 120, which is illustrated in an exemplary manner in FIG. 3, which is embodied for a right-hand drive vehicle. The components of the wiper system 20, which have already been described with regard to the left-hand drive alternative, are shown here by using identical reference numerals.

[0055] The arrangement of the fastening elements 24, 25 of the wiper system 120 according to FIG. 3 is identical to the embodiment of the left-hand wiper system 20 according to FIG. 2. The positions of the first and second support arms 22, 23, however, are interchanged. The first and second support arms 22, 23 were further rotated about a central transverse axis by 180°. The longitudinal end 31 of the first support arm 22 is now connected to the fastening element 25. The opposite longitudinal end 32, which faces the second support arm 23, is connected to the first wiper bearing 126. A longitudinal end 33 of the second support arm 23, which faces the first support arm 22, is also connected to the first wiper bearing 126, and an opposite longitudinal end 34 of the second support arm 23 is connected to the left fastening element 24. Compared to the left-hand drive or right-hand drive configurations, respectively of the wiper systems 20, 120 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, only the first wiper bearing 26, 126 has been exchanged. Compared to the first wiper bearing 26, the wiper bearing 126 has a mirror-symmetrical embodiment or mirror-symmetrical configuration, respectively.

[0056] That first wiper bearing 126 also has a connecting body 136, which extends between the longitudinal ends 32, 33 from the first and second support arm 22, 23, as well as a bearing section 138, which protrudes radially therefrom, including a bearing bushing 139 for the first wiper spindle 56.

[0057] As becomes clear from a comparison of FIGS. 2 and 3, all remaining support structure components of a wiper system 20 configured for a left-hand drive vehicle can likewise be used for a right-hand drive wiper system 120 by a different assembly. In the configuration according to FIG. 3, the first and second support arms 22, 23 form a longitudinally extended support 121, which serves to reinforce and strengthen the suspension strut top mountings 12, 13 of the front carriage 4 of the vehicle body 2.

[0058] While the right one of the two second wiper bearings 30 is inoperable in the configuration of FIG. 2, it is used as wiper bearing for a second wiper arm 16 for a right-hand drive alternative according to FIG. 3. In this case, the left second wiper bearing 28 is then inoperable.

[0059] The two respective outer wiper bearings 28, 30, which also act as bearing housing, can be used for both wiper alternatives, i.e. for left-hand drive or right-hand drive vehicles. The wiper spindle 58 remains the same for both wiper alternatives and only needs to be mounted specifically to the respective wiper alternative on one of the two outer wiper bearings 28, 30. The wiper bearings 26, 28, 30 can be made as light metal cast part, for example of aluminum or magnesium or as plastic injection molded part, for example of polypropylene (PP) or polyamide (PA), thus, e.g., with a glass fiber portion of 30 to 50%. In a preferred embodiment, the support 21, thus the first and the second support arm 22, 23, are made as extruded light metal pipe of aluminum or magnesium. In the alternative, at least one of the support arms 22, 23 can be made of a rolled and welded steel pipe.

[0060] While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.