Disclosure of Invention
A wiper drive for wiping a window pane with a single arm is proposed, comprising: a four-point joint unit (Viergelenkeinheit) comprising a drive lever, a control lever and a coupling part, wherein the coupling part is rigidly designed and is connected to the drive lever and the control lever in a pivotable manner; and the wiper drive has a wiper arm which is rigidly connected to the coupling element, wherein the drive rod is designed in a manner such that it can be driven in a circulating manner.
Due to the configuration of the wiper drive according to the invention, a particularly large wiping area can be swept over by a wiper blade coupled to the wiper arm. At the same time, the wiper drive can be designed particularly compact. Furthermore, the wiper drive can advantageously be designed with a particularly low weight. Fuel consumption of a motor vehicle having the wiper drive can thereby be advantageously reduced. By "single-arm wiping" is to be understood in this context, in particular, that a large part of the window pane is wiped by only one wiper blade which is mounted on exactly one wiper arm. "largely" is to be understood in this context to mean, in particular, a surface fraction of more than 50%, preferably more than 70%, particularly preferably more than 90%. A "four-point joint unit" is to be understood in this context to mean, in particular, a unit which comprises two fixed axes of rotation (Drehachsen) relative to the body and two movable axes of rotation, wherein the movable axes of rotation can be moved on a circular path about the fixed axes of rotation. The axes of rotation are preferably connected to one another by means of a drive rod, a control rod and a coupling element.
The drive rod is provided in particular for a rotationally fixed connection to a drive unit. Preferably, the drive rod has a fixed axis of rotation relative to the vehicle body. It is also advantageous if the drive rod is mounted so as to be pivotable by means of a coupling element via a movable axis of rotation. The movable axis of rotation of the drive rod is preferably movable on a circular path about a stationary axis of rotation of the drive rod. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the control lever has a fixed axis of rotation relative to the vehicle body. Preferably, the control lever is mounted pivotably by means of a coupling element via a movable axis of rotation. The movable axis of rotation of the control rod is preferably movable on a circular path about a positionally fixed axis of rotation of the control rod. The coupling element is preferably formed in one piece. In particular, the coupling element has no lifting device. "drivable around" is to be understood in this context in particular to mean that it is provided for a rotary operation. In particular, the drive rod is also provided for reversing operation. Particularly advantageously, the drive rod is provided for rotation through more than 180 °. "provided" is to be understood in particular as specially designed and/or configured. An "object is provided for a specific function" is to be understood in particular to mean that the object fulfills and/or executes the specific function in at least one application state and/or operating state.
In a further embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the four-point joint unit is provided for moving a wiper blade coupled to the wiper arm in a first direction of movement over a first wiper region and in a second direction of movement over a second wiper region, which is formed differently from the first wiper region. In this way, a particularly large wiping area can be swept over while avoiding the second wiper arm and the second wiper blade. "different" is to be understood in this context in particular to mean at least partially offset. Preferably, at least 10%, preferably at least 20%, particularly preferably at least 30% of the first wiping area is formed differently from the second wiping area.
It is furthermore proposed that the first wiping area comprises a wiping surface which is larger than the wiping surface of the second wiping area. A particularly large overall wiping area can thereby be wiped. Preferably, the wiping surface of the first wiping area is at least 5%, preferably at least 10%, particularly preferably at least 15%, greater than the wiping surface of the second wiping area.
It is also proposed that the longitudinal length of the control rod is greater than the longitudinal length of the drive rod. This enables particularly large overall water-scraping surfaces to be swept in a simple manner. Preferably, the control rod has a longitudinal length that is at least 50% greater than the longitudinal length of the drive rod.
It is also proposed that the wiper drive has a drive unit which is provided for the circumferential driving of the drive rod. This enables a particularly reliable wiping operation.
It is also proposed that the drive unit comprises an output shaft which is directly connected to the drive rod. This can at least reduce friction losses and/or noise emissions. The output shaft is formed by a motor shaft or a transmission output shaft.
It is furthermore proposed that the drive unit comprises a brushless direct current motor. The wiper drive can thus be designed particularly robust and efficient. In addition, the precise rotational speed and rotational direction of the drive unit can be controlled in a simple manner.
It is furthermore proposed that the drive unit comprises a drive motor which is arranged between a body bearing of the control rod and an output shaft bearing of the drive rod. The wiper drive can thereby be advantageously constructed particularly compactly.
Furthermore, a method for wiping a window pane is proposed, wherein the window pane is swept in a first wiping region in a first movement direction of a wiper arm, and wherein the window pane is swept in a second wiping region in a second movement direction of the wiper arm, the second wiping region being formed differently from the first wiping region. A particularly large overall wiping area can thereby be swept while avoiding the second wiper arm.
Furthermore, it is proposed that the drive rod of the four-point joint unit with the rigid coupling element be driven in a circulating manner by the drive unit. A particularly reliable wiping operation can thereby be achieved.
The wiper drive according to the invention is not limited to the above-described applications and embodiments. In particular, the wiper drive according to the invention can have a number which is different from the number mentioned here of the individual elements, components and units in order to satisfy the functional manner described here.
Detailed Description
Fig. 1 shows a wiper drive for wiping a window pane 10 in a single-arm manner. The window pane 10 forms part of a motor vehicle, which is not shown in detail. A wiper blade 38 is placed on the window pane 10. The wiper blade 38 is provided for sweeping the window pane 10 during a wiping operation. The wiper drive has a wiper arm 20. The wiper arm 20 is coupled to a wiper blade 38 in a manner known to those skilled in the art.
The wiper drive has a drive unit 40. The drive unit 40 is provided for driving the wiper arm 20 in a motor manner. The drive unit 40 includes a drive motor 46. The drive motor 46 forms a brushless dc motor 44. The drive unit 40 has a transmission unit 52. The transmission unit 52 forms a gear transmission. The drive unit 40 includes an output shaft 42. The output shaft 42 is formed by a transmission output shaft. In this respect, it is also conceivable for the output shaft 42 to be formed by a motor shaft.
The wiper drive has a four-point joint unit 12. The four-point joint unit 12 is provided for the wiper arm 20 to move in a coordinated manner relative to the window pane 10. The four-point joint unit 12 is provided for converting a rotational movement of the output shaft 42 into a combined rotational movement and translational movement of the wiper arm 20.
The four-point hinge unit 12 includes a driving lever 14. The drive rod 14 is formed in one piece. The drive lever 14 has an output shaft bearing 50. The output shaft bearing 50 is arranged at the free end of the drive rod 14. The drive rod 14 is provided for a rotationally fixed connection to the drive unit 40. More precisely, the output shaft bearing 50 is provided for a rotationally fixed bearing on the output shaft 42. The output shaft 42 is directly connected to the drive rod 14. The drive rod 14 is formed rigidly. The drive rod 14 is designed in such a way that it can be driven in a circulating manner. The drive rod 14 has a fixed axis of rotation relative to the body member 54. More precisely, the drive rod 14 is coupled in a rotationally fixed manner at a free end to the output shaft 42. The opposite free end of the drive rod 14 thus moves in a circular path during the wiping operation. The center of rotation of the circular locus is located on the axis of rotation of the output shaft 42. The drive rod 14 is arranged to rotate more than 180 °. The drive unit 40 is provided for driving the drive rod 14 in a circulating manner.
The four-point hinge unit 12 includes a control lever 16. The control lever 16 is formed in one piece. The control lever 16 has a body support portion 48. The body support 48 is arranged at the free end of the control rod 16. The control lever 16 is connected to the vehicle body member 54 so as to be swingable via the vehicle body support portion 48. The control lever 16 is pivotably supported on the vehicle body member 54. The control rod 16 therefore has a fixed pivot axis 56 relative to the vehicle body. The control rod 16 is formed rigidly. The free end of the control rod 16 thus moves in a circular path during the wiping operation. The center of rotation of the circular trajectory is located on the swing axis 56. Control rod 16 has a longitudinal length 34 that is greater than a longitudinal length 36 of drive rod 14. Drive motor 46 is disposed between a body support 48 of control lever 16 and an output shaft support 50 of drive rod 14.
The four-point hinge unit 12 includes a coupling member 18. The coupling element 18 is formed in one piece. The coupling element 18 is formed rigidly. The coupling element 18 is connected to the drive rod 14 in a pivotable manner. The coupling element 18 is connected to the control rod 16 in a pivotable manner. The drive rod 14 and the control rod 16 are arranged on opposite free ends of a coupling element 18. The wiper arm 20 is rigidly connected to the coupling part 18.
The output shaft 42 rotates clockwise in the illustrated embodiment. The wiper arm 20 is moved by the four-point joint unit 12 in a curved and closed path of movement by means of a fixed point deflection as intended. The four-point joint unit 12 is provided to move a wiper blade 38 coupled to the wiper arm 20 in a first direction of movement 22 over the first wiper region 26. The four-point joint unit 12 is also provided for moving the wiper blade 38 in a second direction of movement 24 over a second wiper region 28, which is formed differently from the first wiper region 26. The first wiping area 26 and the second wiping area 28 partially overlap.
In fig. 1, the wiper blade 38 is arranged in an initial position. During a wiping operation, the wiper blade 38 is first moved in the first direction of movement 22 along the upper boundary line 58 of the entire wiping area. In the swivel position shown furthest to the left in fig. 1, the direction of movement 22 of the wiper blade 38 changes by more than 150 °. The wiper blade 38 sweeps over the second wiping area 28 in the subsequent second direction of movement 24. In this case, the wiper blade 38 moves in the second direction of movement 24 along a lower boundary line 60 of the entire wiping area.
The first wiping area 26 comprises a wiping surface 30. The second wiping area 28 comprises a wiping surface 32. The wiping surface 30 of the first wiping area 26 is larger than the wiping surface 32 of the second wiping area 28. The wiping surface 30 of the first wiping area 26 is greater than the wiping surface 32 of the second wiping area 28 by more than 15%. In wiping operation, the window pane 10 is swept in a first wiping region 26 in a first direction of movement 22 of the wiper arm 20, wherein the window pane 10 is swept in a second wiping region 28 in a second direction of movement 24 of the wiper arm 20.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, drive unit 40 is provided for reversing drive shaft 14. In this case, the drive rod 14 is pivoted back and forth between two end positions. The end positions enclose an angle of 180 °. In this case, firstly only the first wiper region 26 is swept over by the wiper blade 38. In the subsequent wiping operation, the drive rod 14 is rotated through a further 180 ° between the two end positions. As a result, only the second wiping area 28 is swept over by the wiper blade 38. The actuation of the drive unit 40 can be effected here freely by a control unit and/or a regulating unit, which are not shown in detail. In an additional embodiment, the drive unit 40 is provided for sweeping the first wiping area 26 and/or the second wiping area 28 as a function of the wetting of the respective wiping area 26, 28.