Windscreen wiper with pressure adjusting means

• US 5,577,292 A
• Filed: 07/07/1995
• Issued: 11/26/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH (Xylem, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH (Xylem, Inc.)
• Inventors: Blachetta, Thomas, Egner-Walter, Bruno, Jaisle, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US08/406,912
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 15/250.202, 15/250.203, 15/250.351, 15/250.352, 15/250.19, 15/250.34
• US Class Current: 15/250.202
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3411 with means for varying wiper-blade pressure on windshield during operation

Abstract

A windscreen wiper system having a mounting portion and a wiper arm as well as a wiper arm spring, the contact pressure of the wiper blade exerted on the windscreen is adjusted in that the line of operation of the wiper arm spring is varied through a sliding insert. Moreover, the wiper arm spring is supported by a support lever on the mounting portion.

Claims

1. A windscreen wiper system for wiping a windscreen of an automotive vehicle, said system comprising:

a wiper rod supporting a wiper blade, said wiper rod fixedly supported by a wiper arm, said wiper arm being pivotally connected to a mounting portion, said mounting portion being fixed on a wiper shaft for oscillation therewith,

an elongated wiper arm spring, said arm spring having an end proximal to said wiper shaft and an end distal to said wiper shaft, said distal end pivotally coupled with said wiper rod, said wiper arm spring applying a bias force to said wiper blade against a windscreen, with a force of said wiper arm spring forcing said wiper blade onto said windscreen being variable by an adjusting mechanism,

wherein said adjusting mechanism includes an elongated support lever, an elongated set lever and an insert,

said support lever having an end proximal to said wiper shaft and an end distal to said wiper shaft, said support lever is swivably coupled by said distal end within a bearing on said mounting portion,

said proximal end of said wiper arm spring being pivotally attached on said support lever at a point thereof adjacent to said proximal end of said support lever,

said set lever having a first end pivotally and slidably engaging said support lever at said proximal end thereof, said set lever having a second end in abutting engagement with a surface of said insert, said set lever is pivotally coupled, intermediate its ends thereof, to said mounting portion, said set lever is swiveled upon actuation of the windscreen wiper system by movement over said insert surface so as to vary a line of operation of said wiper arm spring relative to an axis of said wiper arm such that the bias force the spring applies to the wiper blade is adjusted.

2. The windscreen wiper system according to claim 1, wherein said support lever is formed as a two-leg lever and said wiper arm spring is placed along and between said two legs.

3. The windscreen wiper system according to claim 1, wherein said bearing is of a fork-type configuration.

4. The windscreen wiper system according to claim 1, wherein said wiper arm, said mounting portion, and said insert are formed as an integral unit.

5. The windscreen wiper system according to claim 1, wherein said mounting portion further comprises a cover cap placed around said insert, a part of said cap undergripping said insert forms a labyrinth-type pack with a bottom side of said insert.

6. The windscreen wiper system according to claim 1, wherein said insert s rigidly connected to a bearing of said wiper shaft.