WO2013160050A1

WO2013160050A1 - Wiper blade, and associated wiper and vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2013160050A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/056412
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yannick CEYZERIAT; Brahim Hamza; Nicolas LEBLANC; Geoffroy Meyer; Gérard Jeuffe; Christophe Broquet; Frédéric Guidez
Original assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa; Mgi Coutier S.A.
Priority date: 2012-04-24
Filing date: 2013-03-26
Publication date: 2013-10-31
Also published as: EP2844530A1; FR2989654B1; FR2989654A1; CN104640749A

Abstract

The invention concerns a wiper blade comprising a longitudinal support (10) along which a wiping strip (12) intended to be in contact with a glass window is secured, the blade comprising an inverted gutter (13) extending substantially parallel to the wiping strip (12), and having a longitudinal opening intended to be facing the glass window, the blade comprising a nozzle (32) secured close to one of the ends of the gutter (13), capable of indirectly dispersing a cleaning liquid into the gutter (13) substantially in the longitudinal direction of same, characterised in that the gutter comprises means for modifying the flow rate of the cleaning liquid dispersed into same.

Description

WIPER BLADE, WIPER AND ASSOCIATED VEHICLE

The present invention claims the priority of the French application 1253760 filed April 24, 2012 whose content (text, drawings and claims) is here incorporated by reference.

[Ooo2] The present invention relates to the cleaning system of the windshield or the rear window of a vehicle, especially automobile.

[ooo3] Conventionally, the windshield or rear window of the vehicle is cleaned by a nozzle usually located for cleaning the windshield, on the hood of the vehicle, or for cleaning the rear window. , on the outskirts of this telescope. This nozzle projects on the glass to clean a detergent which is then scraped by the wipers of the vehicle.

[ooo4] These nozzles generally project the cleaning fluid in an uneven distribution over the entire surface of the window to be cleaned, and on the bodywork surrounding this window. The wiper blades scrape only part of the glass, the unslotted areas of the glass and the body are dirty with the cleaning liquid which forms white spots after evaporation.

[Ooo5] To overcome these drawbacks, it has been proposed, in particular by the French patent application FR 1060728, a wiper blade having an inverted channel extending substantially parallel to the wiper blade, and having a longitudinal opening intended to be facing the window, the windscreen wiper having a nozzle fixed near one end of the inverted channel, able to indirectly spread a laminar jet of cleaning liquid in the gutter substantially in the longitudinal direction thereof.

[Ooo6] This solution has the disadvantage that the distribution of the washing liquid along the squeegee is not uniform.

[ooo7] The invention therefore aims in particular to remedy this disadvantage and to propose an improved wiper blade for a more controlled or more uniform distribution of the cleaning liquid.

It proposes more specifically for this purpose a wiper blade comprising a longitudinal support along which is fixed a wiper blade intended to be in contact with a window, the blade having an inverted gutter extending substantially parallel to the wiper blade, and having a longitudinal opening intended to be opposite the window, the broom having a nozzle fixed near one end of the channel, adapted to indirectly spread a laminar jet of liquid of cleaning in the gutter substantially in the longitudinal direction thereof characterized in that the gutter comprises means for changing the flow of the cleaning liquid sprayed inside thereof.

[ooo9] Changing the flow inside the gutter causes a change in the distribution of the cleaning fluid. The distribution of the liquid is thus better controlled.

[Ooi o] Advantageously, the means for modifying the flow of the cleaning liquid comprise a modification of the size of the inner section of the gutter.

[Ooi i] Advantageously, the change in the size of the inner section of the gutter is a function of the distance of the section relative to the nozzle.

According to a first variant of the invention, the inner section of the gutter is modified in an ad hoc manner.

Advantageously, the means for modifying the flow of the cleaning liquid in a specific manner comprise a plurality of walls located inside the gutter and oriented substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the gutter, each of the walls comprising an opening. Advantageously, the size of the openings decreases from one end to the other of the gutter, the wall having the widest opening being located near the nozzle.

According to a second variant of the invention, the inner section of the gutter is continuously modified.

[Ooi 6] Advantageously, the inner section of the gutter decreases from one end to the other of the gutter, the largest section being located near the nozzle.

The invention also relates to a vehicle wiper comprising a broom according to the invention.

The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a windscreen wiper according to the invention.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 shows a wiper blade according to one embodiment of the invention;

• Figure 2 illustrates a sectional view of a wiper blade according to a plane A;

FIGS. 3a and 3b show sectional views, respectively along planes B and C, of a first variant of a wiper blade according to the invention;

FIGS. 4a and 4b show sectional views, respectively along planes B and C, of a second variant of a broom;

25 wiper according to the invention.

The accompanying drawings may not only serve to complete the invention, but also contribute to its definition, if any. The invention proposes an improvement of a windscreen wiper blade with an inverted gutter. The gutter according to the invention comprises means for modifying the flow rate of the cleaning liquid spread inside it. These means make it possible to distribute the cleaning liquid more evenly on the squeegee or at least to better control its distribution. Means for changing the flow of the cleaning liquid include a change in the size of the inner section of the gutter. The modification of the inner section of the gutter makes it possible to modify the flow rate of the liquid sprayed inside it. These section modifications are chosen for example so as to evenly distribute the liquid on the squeegee.

An advantageous way to achieve the modification of the size of the inner section of the gutter as a function of the distance of the section relative to the nozzle.

The changes of the inner section of the gutter can be made according to different variants. The characteristics presented below are common to the various embodiments of the gutter.

Figure 1 illustrates a wiper blade according to one embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 illustrates a sectional view of a wiper blade in a plane A orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the wiper blade and located at a nozzle.

The wiper blade 1 has a curved longitudinal shape to fit the curve of the window to be cleaned. It comprises a longitudinal support 10 over its entire length a wiper blade 12. The wiper blade 12 is of elastically deformable material, which is intended to be in contact with the window.

The wiper blade 1 carries a nozzle for dispensing cleaning liquid, which comprises a nozzle 32. The dispensing nozzle 3 is attached to one end of the blade 1. Jet 32 receives the cleaning fluid by a connection pipe (not shown) of the nozzle 3, to which is connected a flexible fluid inlet pipe, and spreads this fluid forming a laminar jet (that is to say a straight stream and without dispersion) of fluid substantially in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade 1 towards the end opposite the nozzle.

The wiper blade 1 also has, over most of its length, an inverted channel 13 having a U-shaped cross section. One of the edges of the gutter 13, corresponding to the one of the branches of the U, being fixed to the longitudinal support 10 over its entire length, while the other edge of the gutter 13, corresponding to the other branch of the U, is free and extends substantially parallel to the squeegee; wiping 12. These two edges of the channel 13 define a longitudinal opening of the channel 13, in the direction intended to be facing the window.

The inverted channel 13 is also open at an end placed so that the nozzle 32 of the dispensing nozzle 3 spreads the liquid in the channel 13 by this open end.

The jet of cleaning liquid thus diffused, in the form of a laminar jet, substantially in the longitudinal direction of the blade 1, is protected from aerodynamic disturbances by the channel 13.

The channel 13 has for example a curved shape in the curved shape of the blade 1, so that it guides the laminar jet of liquid spread by the nozzle 32 so that it follows the shape of the blade 1.

The other end of the channel 13 is closed, as shown in Figure 1, to allow the excess cleaning liquid to fall by gravity in front of the squeegee to prevent the flow of excess liquid to the outside of the broom 1. According to another possible embodiment, not shown, the channel 13 may also be open at both ends.

It should be noted that, the inverted channel can be integrated into the profile flexible forming the raclette. It extends in this case substantially parallel to the wiper blade of the squeegee.

The modifications of the inner section of the gutter can be made according to different variants whose specificities are described below.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the inner section of the gutter is modified punctually. Figures 3a and 3b illustrate sectional views, respectively in planes B and C, of an embodiment of the first variant.

According to a characteristic of the first variant, the means for modifying the flow of the cleaning liquid in a specific manner comprise a plurality of walls 31, 33 located inside the gutter and oriented substantially orthogonal to the axis. longitudinal of the gutter, each of the walls having an opening.

According to another characteristic of the first variant, the size of the openings decreases from one end to the other of the gutter, the wall having the widest opening 31 being located near the nozzle.

In a particular embodiment, the size of the openings decreases proportionally with respect to its distance to the nozzle.

In the example, the plane B is located at the first third of the wiper blade and the plane C at the second third. In other words, the distance between the plane B and the end of the windscreen wiper is two times smaller than the distance from the plane B with the opposite end of the windscreen wiper. The distance between the plane C the end of the windscreen wiper is twice as large as the distance from the plane C with the end of the wiper opposite the nozzle.

A first wall 31 is located at the plane B. The first wall 31 is rectangular in shape. It is arranged in the lower part of the gutter, that is to say the part closest to the squeegee. A second wall 33 is located at the plane C. The second wall 33 is also rectangular.

The first wall 31 reduces the inner section of the gutter 30% and the second 60%, these values being given by way of non-limiting example.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the inner section of the gutter is continuously modified. Figures 4a and 4b illustrate sectional views, respectively in planes B and C, of an embodiment of the second variant.

As previously, the plane B is located at the first third of the wiper blade and the plane C at the second third.

For example, the inner section 41 of the gutter decreases from one end to the other of the gutter, the largest section being located near the nozzle.

In a particular embodiment, the section of the gutter decreases proportionally with respect to its distance to the nozzle.

In the example, we note that the shape of the section is also modified. It is U-shaped at the jet. The section gradually takes a flared shape halfway up the gutter.

Claims

A wiper blade comprising a longitudinal support (10) along which is attached a wiper blade (12) intended to be in contact with a window, the wiper having an inverted channel (13) extending substantially parallel to the wiper blade (12), and having a longitudinal opening intended to be facing the window, the blade having a nozzle (32) fixed near one end of the channel (13), apt indirectly spreading a cleaning liquid in the gutter (13) substantially in the longitudinal direction thereof characterized in that the gutter comprises means for modifying the flow of the cleaning liquid spilled therein.

A wiper blade according to claim 1, wherein the means for changing the flow rate of the cleaning liquid comprises a modification of the size of the inner section of the gutter.

The wiper blade of claim 2, wherein the change in the size of the inner section of the gutter is a function of the distance of the section from the nozzle.

4. Wiper blade according to one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the inner section of the gutter is modified punctually.

A wiper blade according to claim 4, wherein the means for varying the flow of the cleaning fluid in a pointwise manner comprises a plurality of walls located inside the gutter and oriented substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the gutter, each of the walls having an opening.

The wiper blade of claim 5, wherein the size of the apertures decreases from one end to the other of the gutter, the wall having the widest opening being located near the nozzle.

7. Wiper blade according to one of claims 2 or 3, the inner section of the gutter is continuously modified.

The wiper blade of claim 7, wherein the interior section of the gutter decreases from one end of the gutter to the other, the larger section being located near the nozzle.

9. Vehicle wiper comprising a brush (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. Vehicle comprising a windscreen wiper according to claim 9.