FR2783477A1 - Vehicle windscreen wiper located on tubular member comprises clamp that retains tubular member in lower cavity and is retained by local deformation. - Google Patents

Abstract

The windscreen wiper drive has a reduction motor support (24) clamped onto a tube (20). A clamp (40) engages with the upper part of the fixing section (22) to ensure that it is located in the base of the lower cavity (36) so as to locally deform the tubular profile and immobilize it longitudinally and rotationally about its axis (A) with respect to the support.

Description

The present invention relates to a wiping system for a

motor vehicle window.

  The invention relates more particularly to a wiper system.

  window comprising a tubular structural cross member, intended to be fixed to the vehicle body, and a housing, in particular a housing of an engine or of a geared motor assembly, comprising a support for

fixing on the crosspiece.

  According to a first widely used concept, and insofar as the nature of the materials allows, fixing the support on

  the tubular cross member is made by welding.

  It is also known to produce the tubular crosspiece in two parts, each of the two parts being fitted on or in a corresponding sleeve belonging to the support. This design has the disadvantage of having to make the tubular crosspiece in at least two parts before the assembly operations. In addition, fitting by fitting, possibly completed by crimping, bonding or welding, makes it final and does not allow

  not a simple disassembly of the support.

  It has also been proposed that the tubular cross member comprises a fixing section which is flattened beforehand and on which the motor support is fixed. This design therefore requires carrying out a significant local crushing of the tubular cross member which is difficult to obtain with precision and which has the drawback of presenting risks of overall deformation of the tubular cross member, and in particular of the orientation and the position of its opposite ends which bear in

  the guide bearings of the wiper drive shafts

  windows and / or means for fixing the cross member to the vehicle body. In addition, once the flattened section has been made, the tubular cross-member can only be used for a private vehicle, except for making several flattened sections on the same cross-member in order to allow mounting of the support in different positions, the latter solution having for disadvantage of multiplying the problems mentioned above. It has been proposed in document EP-A-0. 430.375 a wiper system in which the motor support comprises a lower housing part of generally concave semi-cylindrical shape complementary to the profile of the cross member and in which is received at least a lower part of a fixing section of the cross member, of the type comprising means for immobilizing the cross member longitudinally and in rotation about its axis relative to the support, and of the type comprising means for fixing the fixing section of the tubular cross member in the lower housing part of the support which comprise at least one clamping assembly, in particular of the screw-nut type, the clamping axis of which is substantially orthogonal to

  the longitudinal axis of the cross-member fixing section.

  In the embodiment proposed in this document, the profile of the section of the tubular crosspiece which is received in the lower housing part is particularly complex, that is to say that it is not cylindrical circular but has a substantially square section as well as the complementary lower housing part. The head of the clamping screw cooperates directly with the edge of a through hole formed in the wall of the tubular cross member, that is to say that the tear resistance of such an assembly is low, the risk of deformation of the through hole by the head of the screw being significant. In addition, at the end of the tightening operation, a shoulder of the screw must cause a tightening of the lower part of the tubular wall in the bottom of the housing, which requires precise dimensioning of the fixing section of the tubular cross member. , sizing which is particularly difficult to obtain given the complex shape of the fixing section. Finally, this design requires the use of

  a fixing screw which is not a standard component.

  In document EP-A-0.484.175, the fixing section of the tubular cross-member is of circular cylindrical profile, like the rest of the cross-member tube, but for its fixing without deformation in the lower housing part, it is necessary to use an internal clamping nut of special design which must also be introduced beforehand into the corresponding hole in the crossmember, then held in this position until the fixing operation by means of the screw. In addition, such a design requires arranging the internal clamping nut in a recess formed in the bottom of the housing part.

  lower formed in the support.

  In order to remedy these drawbacks, the invention proposes a wiper system of the type mentioned above, characterized in that a clamping flange in the general form of a plate cooperates with the upper part of the fixing section of the cross member and is interposed between a head of the clamping assembly and the support to ensure the clamping of the fixing section of the cross member in the bottom of the lower housing part by locally deforming the tubular profile of the fixing section of the cross member to immobilize the crosses longitudinally and in rotation around its axis with respect

to support.

  According to other characteristics of the invention - to immobilize the cross member longitudinally and in rotation about its axis relative to the support by deforming it locally, the profile of the internal contour of said housing is not of revolution; - Said means for immobilizing the cross member longitudinally and in rotation about its axis relative to the support comprise elements formed in relief in the concave wall of the housing part; - Said elements in relief comprise at least one longitudinal rib; - Said elements in relief comprise at least one flat parallel to the general axis of the fixing section; said elements in relief comprise a series of notches or teeth of longitudinal orientation; - The lower housing part is complementary to the profile of the portion of the lower part of the fixing section which it receives; - The lower housing part is open upwards in a substantially planar upper face of the support, and the clamping axis of the clamping assembly is substantially perpendicular to this upper face; - The clamp has a substantially planar underside which, in the clamped position of the clamp, bears against the upper face of the support; - The clamp has a concave upper housing part which receives the upper part of the fixing section; - The upper housing part is complementary to the profile of the portion of the upper part of the fixing section with which the flange cooperates; - The clamping assembly comprises two clamping subsets; - The clamping assembly comprises at least one rod which passes through the fixing section of the crosspiece; The clamping axis of the clamping assembly extends in an axial plane of the fixing section of the cross member; - The housing part comprises a sleeve which extends vertically inwards from its concave wall and which extends axially through a vis-à-vis hole formed in the wall of the fixing section of the cross member ; - The rod of the clamping assembly extends axially through the sleeve; The clamping assembly comprises at least one rod which is offset laterally with respect to the fixing section of the cross member; - one of the lateral ends of the flange, arranged opposite the clamping assembly with respect to the fixing section of the cross member, is articulated with respect to the support to allow clamping by bracing of the flange tightening around the upper part of the cross member fixing section; - The rods of the two clamping sub-assemblies are offset laterally on either side with respect to the fixing section of the cross-member; - The clamping assembly is an assembly of the screw-nut type; - the clamp is produced integrally with the

  support to which it is connected by a deformable portion.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear

  on reading the following detailed description for understanding

  which will be referred to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view which illustrates the main components of a first embodiment of a wiper system including the means for fixing a motor support on a tubular cross member are made in accordance with the teachings of the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly illustrated in Figure 1 and in which the components are shown in the assembled position; - Figures 3 and 4 are views similar to that of Figure 2 which illustrate two first variants of the invention; - Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view which illustrates a second embodiment of the invention; - Figure 6 is an end view along arrow F6 of the figure; - Figures 7 and 8 are views similar to those of Figures 5 and 6 which illustrate a variant of the second embodiment - Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the invention in which the clamping and fixing screws pass through the fixing section of the tubular cross member; - Figure 10 is a detailed perspective view of the clamp of the third embodiment; - Figures 11 to 16 are views similar to that of Figure

  9 which illustrate five variants of the third embodiment.

  In the following description, identical components,

  Similar or analogous are designated by the same reference numbers.

  In order to facilitate understanding of the description and

  claims, the terms will be used without limitation

  "vertical", "horizontal", "upper", "lower", etc. with reference to the figures. There is shown in Figure 1 a tubular cross member 20 belonging to a wiper system (not shown in details) which is a circular cylindrical tube, a fixing section 22 is provided to be fixed to a support 24 which is the support of a motor or a gearmotor group (not shown in detail) for

  alternating wiper drive of the system wipers.

  The support 24 is illustrated schematically in the form of a block delimited by a horizontal flat upper face 26, by a parallel flat lower face 28 and by two transverse vertical faces 30 which delimit the length of the support 24 measured according to

  the direction of the axis A of the section 22 for fixing the cross-member 20.

  A lower housing part 36 is formed in the face

upper 26.

  The lower housing part 36 is here semi-cylindrical concave and it is generally complementary to the convex cylindrical external profile of the section 22 for fixing the tubular cross member 20 which is intended to be received in a fixing housing constituted by the lower housing part 36 and by a part of housing

  upper 38 which is formed in a clamp 40.

  The clamp 40 is a sheet metal plate shaped with a lower flat face 42 in which the upper housing part 38 is formed, and by two opposite transverse faces 44 so that the length of the flange 40 is substantially equal to the length of the part of the support 24, measured along the axis A, in

  which is formed the lower housing part 36.

  Thus, the flange 40 is produced overall in the form of a clamping jumper, for example in folded sheet metal, with a central portion delimiting the upper housing part 38 and two lateral and opposite wings 76 delimiting the horizontal lower face 42 of the clamp 40 intended to come into abutment against the portions opposite

  the horizontal upper face 26 of the support or base 24.

  The upper housing part 38 is concave semi-cylindrical complementary to the lower housing part 36 and complementary to the external profile of the fixing section 22 of the cross-member

tubular 20.

  According to the invention, the concave cylindrical surface of the lower housing part 36 has a rib 46 formed in relief and of longitudinal orientation. More specifically, the rib extends in the vertical axial plane P

  of the housing 36-38 and of the fixing section 22 of the crosspiece 22.

  The rib 46 is intended, when tightening the flange 40, to cooperate with the external surface 23 of the lower portion opposite the fixing section 22 by deforming the latter to form thereon, over the entire axial length of the fixing section 22, a complementary rib 48 (see FIG. 2). The tubular wall of the cross member 20 is thus locally deformed during the mounting operation of the support.

  24 on the cross member over the length of the tubular fixing section.

  After tightening, the cooperation of the rib 46 with the groove 48 deformed in the tubular wall of the fixing section 22 immobilizes the latter in rotation, about the longitudinal axis A, relative to the support

  24 on which the flange 40 is fixed.

  In addition, the rib 46 also immobilizes the fixing section 22 relative to the support insofar as the opposite longitudinal ends of the rib 46 are in abutment against the ends

groove 48.

  If the internal diameter of the housing, in two lower parts 36 and upper 38, is less than the original external diameter of the tubular cross member 20, the tightening of the flange 40 also causes radial compression with deformation of the fixing section which increases the in rotation and longitudinal immobilization of the crossmember by

support.

  In the first embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the fixing and tightening of the flange on the support 24 is provided by means of fixing screws 50 which do not pass through the fixing section 22 of the tubular cross member 20, but which are offset laterally on either side of the fixing section 22 with their clamping axes B parallel and orthogonal to the planes of the surfaces 26 and 42, and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A. The threaded lower ends of the screws 50 are

screwed into nuts 56.

  The assembly of the wiper system according to the invention is thus carried out for example by placing the flange 40 with its screws 50 above the fixing section 22, then by screwing the nuts 56 up to that the horizontal planar faces 32 and 42 come into mutual support. A pre-assembly of the flange can be carried out by then introducing the cross-member longitudinally, then by proceeding

tightening.

  The cooperation of the heads 51 of the screws 50 with the opposite face 43 of the wings 76 of the flange 40 makes it possible to apply to the fixing section 22 the clamping force required to obtain the deformation

local cross 20.

  As a variant not shown, the screws 50 are mounted in reverse, that is to say that their threaded ends are mounted screwed into threaded holes formed in the wings 76 of the flange

  tightening 40, the latter then preferably being produced by molding.

  Each tightening assembly of the screw-nut type may also include studs carried by the flange or the base instead.

screws 50.

  Alternatively, it is also possible to provide several parallel ribs 46 and / or to provide one or more ribs 46

  in the upper housing part 38 of the flange 40.

  In the variant embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the means for longitudinal and rotating immobilization of the fixing section 22 comprise a flat 46 formed in the rounded part 75 of the clamping jumper 40 and which extends parallel to the axis A in a plane perpendicular to the vertical axial plane P. When tightening by means of the screws 50, the flat 46 causes the formation of a corresponding flat 48 in the upper portion of the

fixing section 22.

  In the variant embodiment which is illustrated in FIG. 4, the concave lower housing part 36 is not in the shape of a circular cylinder arc and the profile of the internal contour of the housing 36-38 is not of revolution. More specifically, the profile, in cross section, of the lower housing part 36 is substantially V-shaped and is constituted by two flats 46 parallel to the axis A and forming between them an acute angle. When tightening, the flats 46 of the base 24 cause the formation of two corresponding flats 48 in the tubular wall of the lower portion of the section 22 received in the housing part

lower 36.

  The second embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 will now be described in which, as in the case of that illustrated in FIG. 1, the clamping screw (s) 50 do not cross the section of

  fixing 22 of the tubular cross member 20.

  The fastening and clamping flange 40 is generally similar in design to that illustrated in FIG. 9 and one of its lateral wings 76, on the left when considering FIG. 5, is tightened by one or more

  screws 50 on a corresponding part of the support 24.

  The other lateral wing 76 ′, on the right when considering FIG. 5, is inclined downwards and rests on a portion of the face

  corresponding inclined upper 32 'of the support 24.

  The wing 76 ′ is shaped, as can be seen in FIG. 6, into a hinge articulation tab 76 ′ whose longitudinal branches ′ bear on two lugs 82 ′ of the support to constitute a hinge articulation of the clamp 40 which is thus tightened, by the screws 50, in bracing around the fixing section 22 of the

tubular cross member 20.

  The assembly is carried out, after having set up the fixing section 22 in the lower housing part 36, by introducing the tabs 80 'under the lugs 82', then by tilting the clamp 40 until its wing 76 comes opposite the corresponding part of the base 24. The fixing is carried out by introducing the screw (s) of

  clamping 50 and the (them) screwing in the threaded holes 52, 56 of the support.

  The arrangement of the articulated flange 40, the tightening of which is effected by bracing around the tubular crosspiece 20, 22 also makes it possible to pre-position and pre-mount the flange on the base 24, without completely tightening the screw 50 and then introduce

  axially along the axis A the tubular cross member 20 in the housing 36-

  38, and finally to perform the final clamping operation by tightening the screws 50. As in the case of FIG. 4, the housing which receives the fixing section 22 also does not have an internal profile of revolution. To this end, the curved central portion 75 of the clamping jumper 40 has a greater radius of curvature than the radius of the external surface 23 of the tubular cross member 20, which results in localized crushing of the upper portion of the fixing section. 22 during tightening by the screws 50, and in the formation of longitudinal and diametrically opposed folds 77 at the joint plane between the surfaces

  planes in contact 32, 42 and 32 ', 42' of the support 24 and the flange 40.

  The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, which is also of the clamping type by bracing of the flange 40, differs first of all from that illustrated and described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 by the means

  of articulation of the lateral wing 76 'of the clamp 40.

  Indeed, the wing 76 ′ is here shaped as a cylindrical sleeve of oblong shape oriented along a vertical axis (see FIG. 16) in which is received with play a cylindrical finger 84 ′ of the support 24 which extends horizontally and laterally towards the right to be received at

  inside the sleeve 76 'in which it can move vertically.

  It can also be seen in FIG. 7 that the left lateral wing 76 of the flange 40 can be extended towards the outside by a part 86 allowing in particular the fixing of the assembly to the vehicle and / or the fixing

  accessories on this part 86 of the clamp 40.

  The deformation of the upper part of the fixing section 22 which is received in the upper housing part 38 is also here due to the presence of teeth or longitudinal indentations, similar to the rib of Figure 1, which penetrate the thickness of the wall in

  deforming it radially inward.

  The third embodiment of Figures 9 and 10 is first characterized in that the fixing and tightening screws 50 pass through the housing 36-38 which receives the fixing section 22. The two rods of the screws 50 extend in the axial vertical plane P and they therefore cross here the fixing section 22 of the tubular crosspiece 20, the tubular wall of which comprises for this purpose two pairs of upper 58 and lower holes 59 aligned in pairs and previously formed in the fixing section 22 with the same spacing as the

  longitudinal distance separating the axes B of the screws 50.

  The nuts are replaced by holes 54 comprising

  each a thread 56 formed in the body of the support 24.

  The clamp 40 has here a solid body with two

  vertical holes 72 for the passage of the screw rods 50.

  The local deformation of the fixing section 22 is here obtained by means of two longitudinal ribs 46 formed in relief in the concave cylindrical surface of the upper housing part 38 arranged symmetrically on either side of the plane P. In the alternative embodiment of FIG. 11, the flange 40 comprises a flat 46 of the type of that illustrated in FIG. 3 In the variant embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12, the fixing section 22 comprises two tubular cylindrical chimneys 61 which extend vertically, each along axis B of a screw-nut clamping assembly towards the inside of the tube from the upper portion thereof. Each chimney 61 delimits the upper hole 58 for the

passage of the fixing screw 50.

  As in the case of FIG. 5, it is the flange 40 which deforms the fixing section 22 In the variant embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13, chimneys 61 are formed in the lower portion of the fixing section 22 which delimit the lower holes 59 for the passage of

clamping screw 50.

  The body of the support 24 here comprises two slightly frustoconical tubular sockets 60 which extend vertically, each along the axis B of a corresponding screw 50, from the concave face of the lower housing part 36 and upwards to the interior of the accommodation

  receiving the fixing section 22.

  Each socket 60 is received in a chimney 61, that is to say through a lower hole 59 of the fixing section 22, the diameter of which is thus greater than that of the corresponding upper hole 58, which

  is itself only crossed by the rod of the tightening screw 50.

  The sockets 60 allow the passage of the rods 50 and they have

  function to make up for the play between the different elements.

  In the variant embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14, the flange 40 is constituted by a simple flat plate whose central part crossed by the loosening screws 50 is equivalent to the flat 46 of the

figure 3.

  In the variant shown in FIG. 15, the flange 40 can be independent for each clamping screw 50 and reduced to a simple clamping "washer" 40 and the upper part 53 of the screw which extends through the chimney 61 is frustoconical to deform the chimney 61 and

  thus make up for the clearances of the assembly.

  As a variant not shown, the frusto-conical part 53 may belong to the washer-flange 40 In the variant embodiment illustrated in FIG. 16, the internal profile of the lower housing part 36 has a flattened "bottom"

  forming a flat 46 and from which two sockets 60 extend.

  To obtain the flattening of the upper part of the fixing section 22 illustrated in FIG. 16, it is possible to conform the two flange washers 40 into a single plate which extends over the entire length of the fixing section 22, and / or preform a flattened before mounting and tightening. The tightening of the screws 50 is finished when the edge

  upper sockets 60 come to bear against the facing portions

  screw of the internal surface of the upper portion of the fixing section

  22 and therefore indirectly in abutment against the washer-flange 40.

  According to a variant not shown, and whatever the embodiment adopted, the base 24 and the clamp 40 can be produced integrally in one piece by molding, for example

made of plastic.

  To this end, in order to constitute a sub-assembly with a "captive" flange before mounting, the clamp 40 can be connected to the support 24 by a thinned portion in the form of a connecting strip which

is elastically deformable.

Claims (21)

  1. Wiper system comprising a tubular cross member (20), in particular a circular cylindrical cross member, intended to be fixed to the body of the vehicle, and a housing, in particular a housing of an engine or of a geared motor assembly, comprising a support (24) for its attachment to the cross-member (20) and which comprises a lower housing part (36) of generally concave semi-cylindrical shape and in which is received at least a lower part of a section (22) for fixing the crosspiece (20), and of the type comprising means for fixing the section (22) for fixing the crosspiece (20) in the lower housing part (36) of the support (24) which comprise at least one   clamping assembly (50, 52, 54, 56, 77, 79), in particular of the screw type   nut, the clamping axis (B) of which is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (A) of the fixing section (22) of the crosspiece (20), characterized in that a clamping clamp (40) in the form of plate general cooperates with the upper part of the fixing section (22) of the cross member and is interposed between a head (51) of the clamping assembly (50, 56) and the support (24) to ensure the clamping of the section fixing (22) of the cross member in the bottom of the lower housing part (36) by locally deforming (48) the tubular profile of the fixing section (22) of the cross member (20) to immobilize the cross member (20) longitudinally and in rotation about its axis (A) relative to the support (24) 2. Wiper system according to claim 1, characterized in that, to immobilize the cross member (20) longitudinally and in rotation about its axis (A) relative to the support (24) by locally deforming it, the profile of the internal contour of said housing (36, 38) is not revolutionary.   3. Wiper system according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that said means for   immobilize the crosspiece (20) longitudinally and in rotation about its axis (A) relative to the support (24) have formed elements   in relief (46) in the concave wall of the housing part (36, 38).   4. Wiper system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said relief elements comprise at least a longitudinal rib (46).   5. Wiper system according to claim 3, characterized in that said raised elements comprise at least one flat (46)   parallel to the general axis of the fixing section (22).   6. Wiper system according to claim 3, characterized in that said raised elements comprise a series of notches or   teeth (46) with longitudinal orientation.   7. Wiper system according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the housing part   lower (36) is complementary to the profile of the portion of the part   lower of the fixing section (22) which it receives.   8. Wiper system according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the housing part   lower (36) is open upwards in a substantially planar upper face (26) of the support (24), and in that the clamping axis (B) of the clamping assembly is substantially perpendicular to this face upper (26).   9. Wiper system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the clamping flange (40) has a substantially planar lower face (42) which, in the clamped position of the flange   (40) is in abutment against the upper face (26) of the support (24).   10. Wiper system according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the clamp   (40) has a concave upper housing part (38) which receives   the upper part of the fixing section (22).   11. Wiper system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the upper housing part (38) is complementary to the profile of the portion of the upper part of the section   fixing (22) with which the flange (40) cooperates.   12. Wiper system according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the set of   clamping comprises two clamping subsets (50).   13. Wiper system according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the set of   clamping comprises at least one rod (50) which passes through the section of fixing (22) of the crosspiece.   14. Wiper system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the axis (B) for tightening the tightening assembly   extends in an axial plane (P) of the fixing section (22) of the crosspiece.   15. Wiper system according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the housing part   (36, 38) has a socket (60) which extends vertically inwards from its concave wall and which extends axially through a visually opposite hole (68, 70) formed in the wall of the stretch of fixing (22) of the crosspiece.   16. The wiper system according to claim 12 taken into account   combination with one of claims 13 or 14, characterized in   that the rod (50) of the clamping assembly extends axially through the socket (60).   17. Wiper system according to any one of   Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the clamping assembly   has at least one rod (50) which is laterally offset by   relative to the fixing section (22) of the crosspiece (20).   18. Wiper system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that one (76 ', 80') of the lateral ends of the flange (76, 78 '), arranged opposite the assembly of clamping (50, B) relative to the fixing section (22) of the crosspiece (20), is articulated by   relative to the support (24, 82 ', 84') to allow tightening by arc   clamping flange (40) around the upper part of the   fixing section (22) of the crosspiece (20).   19. The wiper system according to claim 17 taken in combination with claim 5, characterized in that the rods (50, B) of the two clamping sub-assemblies are offset laterally on either side relative to the fixing section (22) of the crosspiece (20)   20. Wiper system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the assembly of   tightening is a set of the screw-nut type (50, 52, 54, 56). 21. System according to any one of the claims   previous, characterized in that the clamping flange is made integrally with the support to which it is connected by a deformable portion.