Wiper system

• US 6,513,186 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1999
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Zimmer, Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US09/381,776
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 152/503, 152/503.1, 152/503.4, 152/502.7, 296/96.17, 296/96.15, 403/DIG.3, 403/2, 74/42, 74/43
• US Class Current: 15/250.31
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0402 completely or partially concealed in a cavity
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0488 Wiper arrangement for crash protection or impact absorption
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/34 Wiper arms; Mountings therefor wiper arms provided with liquid spreading means B60S1/522; with gas spreading means B60S1/544
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3493 Means for mounting the wiper shaft in the wiper bearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 403/03 Load-responsive release

Abstract

The invention is based on a wiper installation, having at least one wiper bearing (10), in whose hearing housing (12,126) a wiper shaft (18) is supported and axial fixed, and which on its end (20) protruding from a vehicle body (24) carries a wiper arm (60). The wiper shaft (18) is displaceable into the vehicle body (24) when an axial force (40) that exceeds a predetermined magnitude is exerted from outside on the end (20).

Claims

1. A wiper installation, comprising:

at least one wiper bearing (10) having a bearing housing (12, 126), wherein a wiper shaft (18) having opposite ends is supported and axially fixed in said bearing housing, wherein one of said ends (20) of said wiper shaft protrudes from a vehicle body (24) and carries a wiper arm (60), wherein the wiper shaft (18) is displaceable into the vehicle body (24) when a critical axial force (40) that exceeds a predetermined magnitude determined by an injury risk of a person'"'"'s body is exerted from outside on the one of said ends (20), wherein means (56, 88, 116, 120, 122, 128, 132) that are plastically deformable in an axial direction are provided at a location selected from the group consisting of between an inward-acting stop (54, 58, 84) of the wiper shaft (18) and the vehicle body (24) and between said inward-acting stop and a part (12, 130) solidly connected to said vehicle body (24), wherein the means are a plastically deformable sheet-metal sheath (56), wherein the sheet-metal sheath 56 has an axially corrugated region (90).

2. The wiper installation of claim 1, wherein a defined displacement distance (76) is specified for the wiper shaft (18), and a spacing selected from the group consisting of a spacing (78) of the wiper arm (60) from the vehicle body (24) and a spacing of the wiper arm (60) from the windshield (30), and a distance selected from the group consisting of a distance (80) of an inner end (22) of the wiper shaft (18) from an adjacent vehicle part (86) a distance of a part (74) solidly connected to said wiper shaft (18) from said adjacent vehicle part, corresponds at least to the displacement distance (76).

3. The wiper installation of claim 1, wherein a motion of the wiper shaft (18) is damped to an increased extent toward the end of the displacement distance (76).

4. The wiper installation of claim 1, wherein the sheet-metal sheath (56) is disposed such that in a crash, it is upset under the influence of the critical axial force (40).

5. The wiper installation of claim 1, wherein the sheet-metal sheath (56) is disposed such that in a crash, it is pulled apart (15) under the influence of the critical force (40).

6. The wiper installation of claim 1, wherein the means (56, 114, 122), upon deformation, press against an adjacent wall (12, 18, 148) and damp the motion of the wiper shaft (18) by friction with the wall.

7. The wiper installation of claim 1, wherein the stop of the wiper shaft (18) is formed by an intermediate ring (84), wherein said intermediate ring (84) serves as a bearing face for a fastening part (60) of a wiper arm.

8. The wiper installation of claim 1, wherein the inward-acting stop (104) of the wiper shaft (18) has positive engagement means with a rated breaking point (106, 110, 112, 114, 118).

9. The wiper installation of claim 1, wherein the bearing housing (126) is supported on an element selected from the group consisting of the vehicle body (24) and a mounting bracket (130) of the wiper installation by means selected from the group consisting of plastically deformable and nonpositive engagement means (128).

10. The wiper installation of claim 9, wherein a mounting bracket (130) of the wiper installation is supported on the vehicle body (24) by fourth plastically deformable or nonpositive engagement means (132).

11. The wiper installation of claim 1, wherein a fastening part (60) of the wiper arm has a large-area cover cap (66) of solid material in a region where said fastening part is fastened to the wiper shaft (18).