US 5,946,764 A · Wiper with tiliable substructure and airflow deflectors

Abstract

A windshield wiper blade assembly equipped with a combination of tilting secondary yokes (38) and airflow deflectors (44) articulated thereon, to provide smooth operation and wind lift resistance at a broad range of driving speeds. Wiper blade assembly (24) is mounted on a distal end of a wiper arm (22) and is driven in a reciprocating motion across a windshield (20). The wiper blade assembly has a wiping element (46) attached to a supporting structure that includes a main yoke (34), two secondary yokes (38) and possibly tertiary yokes (40). Dual-pivot hinges (42) are introduced between main yoke (34) and secondary yokes (36) of the wiper blade. As wiper blade (24) sweeps across windshield (20), the friction force causes limited tilting or canting of the tilting substructure, which includes secondary yokes (38), tertiary yokes (40) and wiping element (46). The tilting produces desirable chatter-resistant angle of attack and reduces squeak. The tilt angle is generally different for each sweep direction. Airflow deflectors (44) are attached to the tilting substructure, generally on the opposite side of the longitudinal pivot axis than wiping element (46). The airflow deflectors produce aerodynamic forces that counterbalance the airflow pressure on wiping element (46), thereby preventing the wiper from being flipped to the undesirable angle of attack by the airflow. Thus, chatter and squeak is prevented at a broad range of driving speeds. Additionally, the airflow deflectors prevent wiper blade liftoff. In an alternative embodiment, one longitudinal pivot hinge (200) is introduced at the connection between main yoke (34) and wiper arm (22). The longitudinal pivot hinge is combined with main yoke airflow deflector (204) and secondary yoke airflow deflectors (206), to accomplish the same results as the primary embodiment.

Claims15

Dependent claims

In a windshield wiper which includes a wiping element pressed to and moved across a windshield, said wiping element being supported by a supporting structure, said supporting structure including two secondary yokes and a main yoke, said main yoke being elongated and having two distal ends, said secondary yokes articulated to said distal ends of said main yoke, said main yoke being, in turn, articulated to a wiper arm, said wiping element and said supporting structure constituting a wiper blade assembly, said wiper blade assembly being elongated and defining a longitudinal middle plane, said longitudinal middle plane generally bisecting said wiper blade assembly, said wiper blade assembly being potentially exposed to an airflow, wherein the improvement comprises:

a) hinge means for pivotally connecting said secondary yokes to said distal ends of said main yoke, so as to allow for a tilting of each of said secondary yokes relative to said main yoke, said hinge means being elongated and defining a main plane which generally bisects said main yoke and an end portion of said wiper arm, the angular displacements of said tilting being limited to a predetermined value of said middle plane to each side of said main plane,
b) at least one airflow deflector, said at least one airflow deflector being positioned generally above said secondary yokes and extending upwardly therefrom,
c) attachment means for attaching said airflow deflectors to said secondary yokes, so as to effectuate tilting of said airflow deflectors in unison with said tilting of said secondary yokes,
whereby said secondary yokes and the wiping element supported thereby tilt to a chatter-resistant position as said wiping element sweeps the windshield, and the tilting moment created by the aerodynamic force acting on said airflow deflectors balances off the moment created by the airflow force acting on said wiping element, thus preventing said secondary yokes and the substructure supported thereby from being flipped to an undesirable chatter-prone position by said airflow.

1 more element

In a windshield wiper which includes a wiping element pressed to and moved across a windshield, said wiping element being held in a supporting structure which is, in turn, articulated to a wiper arm said wiping element and said supporting structure constituting a wiper blade assembly, said wiper blade assembly being elongated and defining a longitudinal middle plane, said longitudinal middle plane generally bisecting said wiper blade assembly, said wiper blade assembly being potentially exposed to an airflow, wherein the improvement comprises:

a) hinge means for pivotally connecting said supporting structure to said wiper arm, so as to allow for a tilting of said wiper blade assembly relative to said wiper arm, said hinge means being elongated and defining a main plane which generally bisects a part of said hinge means and an end portion of said wiper arm, the angular displacement of said tilting being limited to a predetermined value of said middle plane to each side of said main plane,
b) at least one airflow deflector, said at least one airflow deflector being positioned generally above said wiper blade assembly and extending upwardly therefrom,
c) attachment means for attaching said airflow deflectors to said supporting structure, so as to effectuate tilting of said airflow deflectors in unison with said tilting of said supporting structure,
whereby said wiper blade assembly tilts to a chatter-resistant position as said wiping element sweeps said windshield, and the tilting moment created by the aerodynamic force acting on said airflow deflectors balances off the moment created by the airflow force acting on said wiping element, thus preventing said wiper blade assembly from being flipped to an undesirable chatter-prone position by said airflow.

1 more element

In a wiping device which includes a wiping element pressed to and moved across a surface, said wiping element being supported by a supporting structure, said supporting structure being articulated to a wiper arm, said wiping element and said supporting structure constituting a wiper blade assembly, said wiper blade assembly being elongated and defining a longitudinal middle plane, said longitudinal middle plane generally bisecting said wiper blade assembly, said wiper blade assembly being potentially exposed to an airflow, wherein the improvement comprises:

a) said supporting structure being divided into two substructures, a tilting substructure and a non-tilting substructure, said tilting substructure supporting said wiping element,
b) hinge means for pivotally connecting said tilting substructure to said non-tilting substructure, so as to allow for a tilting of said tilting substructure relative to said non-tilting substructure, said hinge means being elongated and defining a main plane which generally bisects said non-tilting substructure and an end portion of said wiper arm, the angular displacement of said tilting being limited to a predetermined value of said middle plane to said main plane,
c) at least one airflow deflector, said at least one airflow deflector being positioned generally above said tilting substructure and extending upwardly therefrom,
d) attachment means for attaching said airflow deflectors to said tilting substructure, so as to effectuate tilting of said airflow deflectors in unison with said tilting of said tilting substructure,
whereby said tilting substructure tilts to a chatter-resistant position as said wiping element sweeps said surface, and the tilting moment created by aerodynamic force acting on said airflow deflectors balances off the moment created by the airflow force acting on said wiping element and said tilting substructure, thus preventing said tilting substructure from being flipped to an undesirable chatter-prone position by said airflow.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wiper with tiliable substructure and airflow deflectors

Life of this patent

Wiper with tiliable substructure and airflow deflectors

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15