Windshield cleaning system with pipe and conductor in wiper shaft

• US 5,327,614 A
• Filed: 01/14/1991
• Issued: 07/12/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH
• Original Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH
• Inventors: Egner-Walter, Bruno, Schmid, Eckhardt, Pleib, Eberhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US07/613,798
• Time in Patent Office: 1,275 Days
• Field of Search: 15/250.01-250.09, 15/250.34, 15/250.36, 15/250.35, 219/202, 219/203, 392/480, 239/284.1, 239/284.2, 239/133, 239/134, 239/135, 239/261, 239/264, 439/190-195
• US Class Current: 15/250.04
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3415 with means for supplying cleaning fluid to windscreen cleaners, e.g. washers arrangement of nozzles B60S1/52
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/488 electrically
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/522 moving liquid spreading means, e.g. arranged in wiper arms

Abstract

A windshield cleaning system with a wiper shaft for driving a wiper arm-and-blade assembly is described, which windshield cleaning system comprises an axial bore for forming a washing liquid channel, whereby at least one electric conductor for heating the washing liquid is assigned to the washing liquid channel. Thereby the electric conductor is anchored on a pipe, which is arranged in the bore of the wiper shaft, whereby this pipe extends the end of the wiper shaft by way of at least one end portion and can detachably be connected there with a counter contact piece. Due to the plug connection of the electric conductor an easy assembly is possible.

Claims

1. A windshield cleaning system for delivering a washing liquid supplied by a washing liquid supply tube to a windshield of a vehicle so that the windshield may be cleaned by the washing liquid being wiped over the windshield, the windshield cleaning system comprising:

a jet for spraying the washing liquid onto the windshield;

a rotatably mounted shaft with a drive end and a driven end, the shaft having an axial bore, the bore adapted to channel washing liquid passing from the washing liquid supply tube through the bore from the drive end to the driven end of the shaft;

a wiper arm for wiping the washing liquid over the windshield, the wiper arm connected to the driven end of the shaft;

an intermediate piece disposed at the driven end of the shaft for diverting the washing liquid received from the bore of the shaft to the jet, the jet being connected to the intermediate piece;

a heating element disposed on the wiper arm for warming the washing liquid at the jet;

a voltage source connected to the heating element for exciting the heating element;

at lest one electric conductor for heating the washing liquid, the at least one electric conductor disposed within the bore;

a pipe disposed within the bore, the at least one electric conductor carried by the pipe, the pipe extending beyond one of the ends of the shaft to define a first end portion of the pipe;

at least one contact web connected to the conductor and attached to the at least one end portion for detachable connection to a counter contact piece; and

a first counter contact piece detachably electrically connected to the voltage source and the at least one contact web.

2. A windshield cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the first end portion extends from the drive end of the wiper shaft, wherein the windshield cleaning system further comprises a tube connecting stud detachably plugged onto the first end portion, and wherein the first counter contact piece is fixed onto the tube connecting stud.

3. A windshield cleaning system according to claim 2, wherein the pipe includes a second end portion that extends from the driven end of the wiper shaft, wherein the intermediate piece is detachably plugged into the second end portion, and wherein a second counter contact piece is fixed onto the intermediate piece.

4. A windshield cleaning system according to claim 3, wherein the at least one contact web is formed as a cylindrical segment and is attached to the circumference of the pipe and wherein the first counter contact piece is a contact lug resiliently contacting the contact web for electrical connection therewith.

5. A windshield cleaning system according to claim 4, wherein the system further comprises locking devices for locking the tube connecting stud and the intermediate piece with the respective first and second end portions of the pipe, the locking devices formed in such a way that contact webs contact the respective first and second counter contact pieces when the connecting stud and the intermediate piece are locked with the respective first and second end portions of the pipe.

6. A windshield cleaning system according to claim 5, wherein the locking devices permit limited twisting of the tube connecting stud and of the intermediate piece in relation to the pipe.

7. A windshield cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the pipe is elongated and has an axial pocket extending substantially the length of pipe and wherein the conductor and the contact web are an integral conductor strip punched out of a blank and fixed in the pocket.

8. A windshield cleaning system according to claim 7, wherein the conductor strip is elongated and fixed into the pipe parallel to the pipe.

9. A windshield cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electric conductor conveys electricity to the heating element.

10. A windshield cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electric conductor is a heating element for heating the washing liquid disposed within the bore.

11. A windshield cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein a cover cap is disposed on the wiper arm, wherein the system further comprises a tube piece for conveying washing liquid from the intermediate piece toward the jet, and wherein the intermediate piece is integrally formed with the cover cap and comprises a first and second stud projecting therefrom, the studs being angularly disposed with respect to each other, the first stud being substantially hollow with an inner surface and detachably receiving the first end portion of the pipe and the second stud connecting to the tube piece.

12. A windshield cleaning system according to claim 11, wherein a tube connecting intermediate piece is plugged onto the second stud, the tube connecting intermediate piece connecting the second stud with the tube piece.

13. A windshield cleaning system according to claim 11, wherein a seal ring is provided between the inner surface of the first stud and the outer circumference of the first end portion of the pipe.

14. A windshield cleaning system according to claim 11, wherein at least one locking tab with a locking receiver is formed onto the first stud, into which locking receiver a locking lug extending from the outer circumference of the first end portion of the pipe engages.

15. A windshield cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the first end portion of the pipe is formed as a ball-like locking body fittingly engaging into a respective locking receiver on the intermediate place.

16. A windshield cleaning system, according to claim 1, wherein the wiper arm comprises a fastening section at the driven end of the shaft, a bearing section, and a transitional zone between the bearing section and the fastening section, said transitional zone including an aperture therein for a washing liquid tube to pass therethrough.

17. A windshield cleaning system according to claim 16, wherein locking tabs are anchored in the aperture, the locking tabs having a holding element for holding a tube piece in a pre-assembly position.

18. A windshield cleaning system according to claim 17, wherein the tube piece includes integrated electric cables integral therewith, said cables for heating said tube piece.

19. A windshield cleaning system according to claim 17, wherein the wiper arm includes a wiper rod coupled with the fastening section and electric cables for heating the tube piece, the electric cables being adjacent to the tube piece, and wherein a tube guiding element is clipped onto the wiper rod, the tube guiding element comprising an elongated groove for holding the electric cables.

20. A windshield cleaning system for delivering a washing liquid, supplied by a washing liquid supply reservoir and warmed by an electric current provided by a voltage supply, to an intermediate piece and then to a jet for spraying the washing liquid onto a windshield of a vehicle so that the windshield may be cleaned by the action of a wiper arm assembly wiping the washing liquid over the windshield, the windshield cleaning system comprising:

a shaft including a rotatably mounted drive end, a driven end, and an axial bore, the wiper arm assembly at the driven end of the shaft;

a washing fluid supply pipe disposed within said bore, said pipe including a first end portion adjacent the drive end of said shaft, the first end portion adapted for communication with said washing fluid supply reservoir and said pipe including a second end portion adjacent the driven end of said shaft, the second end portion adapted for communication with said jet through said intermediate piece;

at least one electrical conductor insulatively carried by said pipe;

at least one contact web attached to one of said end portions and electrically connected to said conductor; and

means electrically connected to said contact web for establishing a flow path for electrical current through said electrical conductor for any momentary position of rotation of said shaft while said shaft drives said wiper arm assembly.

21. A windshield cleaning system according to claim 20, wherein said electrically connected means comprises a contact piece resiliently biased against said contact web.

22. A windshield cleaning system according to claim 20, wherein at least one of said end portions extends axially beyond said shaft.

23. A windshield cleaning system according to claim 20, wherein said supply pipe is constructed of electrically insulating material.

24. A windshield cleaning system according to claim 20, wherein at least a portion of said electrical conductor has a predetermined characteristic finite electrical resistance such that a flow of electrical current therethrough will liberate heat.