Patent ID: 6279192
Filing Date: 2001-08-28
Classification: B60S,Y10T

Abstract:
A windshield wiper assembly for use in a motor vehicle, the vehicle including an engine compartment which is capable of generating an on-board electrical power supply, an occupant compartment, and a windshield extending upwardly from a location contiguous a firewall separating the engine compartment and the occupant compartment, said wiper assembly comprising:an electric motor operatively connected to and powered by the on-board electrical supply, said motor forming a part of a housing mounted within the engine compartment at a location remote from the windshield, said housing including a conversion means for converting an output of said motor into a reciprocating and translating driving force;said assembly further including a drive mechanism mounted proximate a lower edge of the windshield and including an elongate body having a length, a width and a height, a first wiper arm pivotally securing to said drive mechanism at a first location and a second wiper arm likewise pivotally securing to said drive mechanism at a second location, each of said first and second wiper arms further including an elongate wiper blade which overlays and contacts an exterior face of the windshield;said drive mechanism including actuating means for driving said first and second wiper arms in a synchronized manner;an elongated and internally hollowed sleeve extending between said housing and said drive mechanism, said sleeve enclosing an incompressible cable securing to said conversion means of said housing at a first end and to said actuating means of said drive mechanism at a second end;said drive mechanism further including a first gear mounted at a first end and in operative communication with said cable, a second gear being mounted at a second end of said drive mechanism body;said actuating means further including a steel braided cable looped around said first and second gears, said looped cable including first and second straight extending portions which extend between said first and second gears, first and second fixed and internally hollowed conduits being mounted upon said drive mechanism between said first and second gears and receiving said first and second straight extending portions therethrough; andsaid incompresssible cable being acted upon by said conversion means and imparting said reciprocating and translating driving force to said drive mechanism to operate said wiper arms and blades in a continuous and synchronized manner.