Integrated lower cowl/plenum and wiper drive module
AssigneeValeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
InventorsLyn Johnson, Boon-Sam Tan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for supporting an assembly including a wiper drive motor, a linkage, and a pair of wiper arm drive shafts with respect to a windshield of a motor vehicle to be cleaned includes a molded cowl/plenum member having two integral bosses extending therethrough. Each boss receives a wiper arm drive shaft extending therethrough. The cowl/plenum member also includes an integral wiper drive motor mount. At least one bearing is associated with each boss for establishing the proper orientation of a rotational axis of each drive shaft to be mounted through the integral bosses. The bearing preferably includes a pair of hat-shaped cylindrical bearings press fit into opposite ends of each boss to define the rotational axis of the drive shaft.
Claims29
An apparatus for supporting a wiper drive motor, a linkage, and a pair of wiper arm drive shafts with respect to a windshield of a motor vehicle to be cleaned, the apparatus comprising:
- a plastic molded, single piece, cowl/plenum member having two integral bosses formed in one piece with the cowl/plenum member each boss for receiving a wiper arm drive shaft extending therethrough;
- and
- at least one bearing associated with each boss for establishing proper orientation of a rotational axis of each drive shaft to be mounted through the integral bosses.
A method for manufacturing an apparatus for supporting a wiper drive motor, a linkage, and a pair of wiper arm drive shafts with respect to a windshield of a motor vehicle to be cleaned, the method comprising the steps of:
- plastic molding a single piece cowl/plenum member having two integral bosses formed in one piece with the cowl/plenum member, each boss for receiving a wiper arm drive shaft extending therethrough, and an integral wiper drive motor mount;
- and
- associating at least one bearing with each boss of the cowl/plenum member for establishing proper orientation of a rotational axis of each drive shaft to be mounted through the integral bosses.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.