Single motor sliding wiper system

A vehicle, comprising:

• a vehicle body, the vehicle body including a window;
• and
• a wiper assembly disposed at the window, including:
• a rail fixed to the vehicle body, the rail including:
• a first rail portion extending in a first direction along a rail length;
• and
• a second rail portion extending in a second direction different than the first direction along the rail length;
• and
• a wiper operably connected to the rail and configured to be driven along the rail length through both the first rail portion and the second rail portion to remove water from a surface of the window;
• wherein the wiper includes:
• a motor operably connected to the rail to drive the wiper along the rail length;
• and
• a wiper arm having a fixed position relative to the motor;
• wherein two brackets at least partially surround the rail, the motor and the wiper arm fixed to the brackets;
• wherein a plurality of rollers extend from the brackets toward the rail to guide the wiper along the rail length, each bracket of the two brackets having a roller of the plurality of rollers affixed thereto;
• wherein the plurality of rollers are urged into contact with the rail via a clamping force securing a first bracket of the two brackets to a second bracket of the two brackets to maintain correct orientation of the wiper relative to the rail;
• wherein the clamping force is applied via one or more fasteners securing the first bracket to the second bracket.

A method of operating a wiper of a vehicle window, comprising:

• securing a rail to a vehicle body at a window of the vehicle, the rail including:
• a first rail portion extending in a first direction along a rail length;
• and
• a second rail portion extending in a second direction different than the first direction along the rail length;
• and
• driving a wiper operably connected to the rail along the rail length through both the first rail portion and the second rail portion to remove water from a surface of the window;
• wherein the wiper includes:
• a motor operably connected to the rail to drive the wiper along the rail length;
• and
• a wiper arm having a fixed position relative to the motor;
• wherein two brackets at least partially surround the rail, the motor and the wiper arm fixed to the brackets;
• wherein a plurality of rollers extend from the brackets toward the rail to guide the wiper along the rail length, each bracket of the two brackets having a roller of the plurality of rollers affixed thereto;
• wherein the plurality of rollers are urged into contact with the rail via a clamping force securing a first bracket of the two brackets to a second bracket of the two brackets to maintain correct orientation of the wiper relative to the rail;
• wherein the clamping force is applied via one or more fasteners securing the first bracket to the second bracket.