Single arm windshield wiper assembly with a telescoping wiper blade

• US 5,408,719 A
• Filed: 06/06/1994
• Issued: 04/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Malcolm, Robert G., Antonelli, Rodolfo A., DeRees, Delbert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US08/254,737
• Time in Patent Office: 323 Days
• Field of Search: 15/250.23, 15/250.21, 15/250.30, 15/250.35, 15/250.16, 15/250.13, 15/250.24, 15/250.25, 74/20, 74/89, 74/96, 74/98, 74/108, 74/89.2, 74/42, 74/43
• US Class Current: 15/250.23
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/24 by rotary cranks
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/365 the effective length being automatically varied during angular oscillation of the arm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18008 Oscillating to reciprocating and alternating rotary
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18184 Crank, pitman, and lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18568 Reciprocating or oscillating to or from alternating rotary
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18832 including flexible drive connector [e.g., belt, chain, strand, etc.]

Abstract

A single arm windshield wiper assembly including a reversible motor, a wiper pivot assembly, and a windshield wiper blade slidably connected to the wiper pivot assembly. A first actuator sub-assembly is operatively connected between the reversible motor and the wiper pivot assembly for reciprocally actuating the wiper blade. A second actuator sub-assembly is operatively connected between the reversible motor and the windshield wiper blade for telescopically moving the wiper blade.

Claims

1. Windshield wiper assembly comprising a reversible motor, a center mount housing, a sleeve member rotatably mounted in said center mount housing, a windshield wiper arm extending from said sleeve member, a wiper blade slidably mounted on said wiper arm for telescopic movement, a first actuator sub-assembly operatively connected between said reversible motor and said sleeve member for alternatively rotating said sleeve and wiper arm, and second actuator subassembly operatively connected between said reversible motor and said windshield wiper blade for telescopically moving said wiper blade, wherein said second actuator sub-assembly includes a cam connected to said reversible motor for rotation therewith, a follower actuated by said cam, a first sprocket rotatably mounted in said sleeve member, a second sprocket rotatably mounted in said wiper arm, an endless chain mounted around said sprockets, connector members operatively connected between said endless chain and said wiper blade, a plurality of gears rotatably mounted in said center mount housing for driving said first sprocket, and a cable operatively connected between said follower and one of said gears for reciprocally rotating same to, thereby, telescopically move said wiper blades in response to movement of said cam.

2. A single arm windshield wiper assembly centrally mounted on a vehicle cowl shelf having sides adjacent a windshield, said assembly comprising a reversible motor mounted on one side of said cowl shelf and having a shaft extending through the shelf, a plate having a cam groove formed therein mounted on the other side of said cowl shelf and connected to said motor shaft for rotation therewith, a center mount housing mounted on said cowl shelf, a sleeve member rotatably mounted in said center mount housing, a wiper arm secured for rotation with said sleeve member, linkage sub-assembly pivotally connected between said motor and said sleeve member for alternately rotating said sleeve member and wiper arm, a follower mounted in said cam groove, a lever pivotally mounted for reciprocal movement in said center mount housing, a pair of cables connected between said follower and said lever, a windshield wiper blade operatively connected to said wiper arm, at least one sprocket rotatably mounted in said sleeve member, a further sprocket rotatably mounted in said wiper arm, an endless chain mounted around said at least one and further sprockets, connector members operatively connected between said endless chain and said wiper blade such that said chain and said blade move in unison, and drive means operatively mounted in said center mount housing and between said at least one sprocket and said lever for telescopically moving said wiper blade in response to movement of said follower in said cam groove.

3. The single arm windshield wiper assembly described in claim 2, wherein said linkage sub-assembly comprises a first lever secured for rotation with said reversible motor, a pair of levers pivotally connected to said sleeve member and extending outwardly therefrom in an X-configuration, and an arm pivotally connected at one end thereof to said first lever, and pivotally connected at the other end thereof to said pair of levers.

4. The single arm windshield wiper assembly described in claim 2, wherein said drive means comprise a plurality of operatively intermeshing gears for driving said at least one sprocket in response to movement of said follower in said cam groove.

5. Windshield wiper assembly comprising a reversible motor, a center mount housing, a sleeve member rotatably mounted in said center mount housing, a windshield wiper arm extending from said sleeve member, a wiper blade slidably mounted on said wiper arm for telescopic movement, a first actuator sub-assembly operatively connected between said reversible motor and said sleeve member for alternatively rotating said sleeve and wiper arm, and second actuator sub-assembly operatively connected between said reversible motor and said windshield wiper blade for telescopically moving said wiper blade, wherein said second actuator sub-assembly comprises a plate secured for rotation with said reversible motor, a predetermined cam groove formed in said plate, a follower mounted in said cam groove and secured to a mid portion of a first lever, said first lever being fixedly pivotally connected at one end and movably pivotally connected at the other end to a second lever, a first cable retainer element pivotally connected to said second lever, a second cable retainer element, a pair of cables connected between said first and second cable retainer elements, a plurality of gears mounted in said center mount housing, a link pivotally connected to said second cable retainer element, a pair of levers pivotally connected to said link and crossing each other in an X-configuration to pivotally connect with a bracket, said bracket being connected to a first gear of said plurality of gears, a first sprocket mounted in said center mount housing and driven by the last of said plurality of gears, a second sprocket pivotally mounted in said wiper arm, an endless chain mounted around said sprockets, and at least one rod slidably mounted in said wiper arm and operatively connected between said chain and said wiper blade.