Electropneumatic windshield wiper drive for a rail vehicle, drive for a windshield wiper and pneumatic system for operating a drive for a windshield wiper

An electropneumatic windshield wiper drive for a rail vehicle, the electropneumatic windshield wiper drive comprising:

• a drive for a windshield wiper for a rail vehicle having a piston guide device and a power transmission device, wherein the piston guide device has a first port and a second port situated opposite the first port and has a piston arranged in the piston guide device, wherein the piston performs mutually opposite linear movements along main direction of extension of the piston guide device, wherein the power transmission device transmits the mutually opposite linear movements of the piston to a wiper shaft to effect an alternating rotational movement of the wiper shaft;
• and
• a pneumatic system comprising a first normal-operation connection line and, parallel thereto, a first emergency-operation connection line designed to connect a supply port for a compressed-air supply of the pneumatic system to the first port of the drive;
• a second normal-operation connection line and, parallel thereto, a second emergency-operation connection line designed to connect the supply port to the second port of the drive;
• and
• a valve device designed such that, during normal operation of the pneumatic system, said valve device couples the supply port to the first port via the first normal-operation connection line and to the second port via the second normal-operation connection line to effect the alternating rotational movement of the wiper shaft such that, during emergency operation of the pneumatic system, said valve device couples the supply port to the first port via the first emergency-operation connection line and to the second port via the second emergency-operation connection line to effect the alternating rotational movement of the wiper shaft.

A drive for a windshield wiper for a rail vehicle, the drive comprising:

• a piston guide device with a first port and with a second port situated opposite the first port;
• two pistons coupled to one another and arranged in the piston guide device and which perform linear movements along a main direction of extension of the piston guide device;
• and
• a power transmission device for transmitting the linear movements of the two pistons to a wiper shaft to effect an alternating rotational movement of the wiper shaft, wherein the power transmission device is a connecting-rod connection between the two pistons, wherein a first of the two pistons is connected by way of a connecting rod to an end of a crank rod, and a second piston of the two pistons is connected by a further connecting rod to the end of the crank rod, wherein the crank rod effects the alternating rotational movement of the wiper shaft;
• and
• a pneumatic system coupled to the first and second port, the pneumatic system having a valve device with four normal-operation valves, at least two emergency-operation valves, and at least one further emergency-operation valve, wherein a first normal-operation valve and a third normal-operation valve of the four normal-operation valves and at least one of the at least two emergency-operation valves are assigned to the first normal-operation connection line, and a second normal-operation valve and a fourth normal-operation valve and the at least one further emergency-operation valve are assigned to the second normal-operation connection line, wherein the at least one further emergency-operation valve is assigned to the first emergency-operation connection line and to the second emergency-operation connection line.

A method for controlling a pneumatic system for operating a drive for a windshield wiper for a rail vehicle, wherein the drive has a piston guide device and a power transmission device, wherein the piston guide device has a first port and a second port situated opposite the first port and has a piston which is arranged in the piston guide device and which performs mutually opposite linear movements along a main direction of extension of the piston guide device, and wherein the power transmission device transmits the mutually opposite linear movements of the piston to a wiper shaft to effect an alternating rotational movement of the wiper shaft, the method comprising:

• deciding whether the pneumatic system will be operated in the operation mode of normal operation or in the operation mode of emergency operation;
• controlling a valve device of the pneumatic system such that a supply port for a compressed-air supply of the pneumatic system is coupled via a first normal-operation connection line to a first port and a second port is coupled to an air outlet, and in alternation therewith, the supply port is coupled via a second normal-operation connection line to the second port and the first port is coupled to an air outlet, to effect the alternating rotational movement of the wiper shaft, when the pneumatic system is operated in the operation mode of normal operation;
• and
• actuating the valve device such that the supply port is coupled via a first emergency-operation connection line to the first port and the second port is coupled to an air outlet, and in alternation therewith, the supply port is coupled via a second emergency-operation connection line to the second port and the first port is coupled to an air outlet, in order to effect the alternating rotational movement of the wiper shaft, when the pneumatic system is operated in the operation mode of emergency operation,
• wherein the valve device has four normal-operation valves and four emergency-operation valves, and
• wherein the first emergency operation connection line is arranged to interconnect the first port to a further emergency-operation valve via the first port.