Patent ID: 9604602
Date: 2017-03-28
CPC Classifications: B60S

Claim:
1. A wiper motor drive system comprising: a motor, an output shaft operatively connected to a wiper blade, and a breakaway clutch operatively connected between said motor and said output shaft; said breakaway clutch including a torque-sensitive releasable locking mechanism having a first position wherein torque is translated from said motor to said output shaft through said breakaway clutch to drive the wiper blade across a surface to be wiped, and a second position wherein torque is interrupted between said motor and said output shaft in response to a predetermined rotational torque differential acting on said output shaft, said locking mechanism being movable back to said first position when said differential torque is reduced on said output shaft; wherein said torque-sensitive releasable locking mechanism further includes a groove defined in said output shaft, a collar disposed about said output shaft, said collar having a slot aligned with said groove of said output shaft and being in driven relationship with said motor, and a release member disposed in said groove of said shaft and in said slot of said collar, said release member movable from said first position wherein torque is translated from said collar to said output shaft through said release member and said second position wherein no torque is translated between said collar and said output shaft.