Linear reciprocating wiper system provided with wiper parking structure

A reciprocating wiper system according to the present invention may include a guide rail; a carrier unit coupled to be slidable in the guide rail and installed to reciprocate in a longitudinal direction of the guide rail; a cam member installed to be rotatable on the carrier unit; a wiper arm coupled to the cam member to move integrally with the cam member and to which a blade is coupled; a first pressing member for aligning the wiper arm in a direction perpendicular to the guide rail by rotating the cam member while the carrier unit is moving in a forward direction along the guide rail; and a second pressing member for aligning the wiper arm in a direction parallel to the guide rail by rotating the cam member while the carrier unit is moving in a reverse direction along the guide rail.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0138589, filed on Oct. 23, 2020, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a wiper system for removing foreign substances from the glass windshield of a vehicle or a ship, and particularly, to a wiper system that moves linearly and reciprocally.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, a window wiper system employed in a vehicle removes foreign substances from the surface of a windshield by a blade installed on a wiper arm that reciprocates and rotates in a certain angular range by a pivot axis rotated by a motor. In a hatchback style vehicle or a sports utility vehicle (SUV), which is a vehicle type, a wiper system is also installed on the rear window depending on the aerodynamic characteristics. On the other hand, when the windshield of the steering room is significantly larger than that of a vehicle, like in the case of a ship, a linear reciprocating wiper system may be employed in which the wiper arm is linearly reciprocated by means such as a belt to remove foreign substances from a glass surface.

However, in recent years, as the design style of vehicles has changed, the tendency to reduce the height of the rear window has been increasing. According to the law, the wiper must be installed to wipe a certain percentage or more of the total area of the window. However, as the height of the rear window is reduced, it is difficult to secure a wipe area of the window prescribed by law with a generally used rotary wiper system. In order to solve this problem, it is necessary to introduce a linear reciprocating wiper system for use in vehicles. However, because the linear reciprocating wiper system remains exposed to one side of the rear window (glass) while the wiper blade is stationary, there is a problem in that the driver's rear view is obstructed and the appearance thereof is unaesthetic. In addition, because the wiper parking position of the conventional linear reciprocating wiper system is not only exposed to the glass, but also the front end of the wiper blade is configured to face upward, there is a problem in that durability is not secured, and thus, the wiper arm may be likely unexpectedly damaged by equipment such as an automatic washer.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

Patent Documents

SUMMARY

An object of the present invention is to provide a linear reciprocating wiper system having a parking structure with improved durability without obstructing the driver's view when the wiper is not in operation, by improving the linear reciprocating wiper system.

In order to achieve the object, the linear reciprocating wiper system provided with a parking structure according to the present invention may include: a guide rail;

a carrier unit coupled to be slidable in the guide rail and installed to reciprocate in a longitudinal direction of the guide rail;

a cam member installed to be rotatable on the carrier unit and provided with a pivot shaft to which a wiper arm is coupled;

a wiper arm coupled to the cam member to move integrally with the cam member and to which a blade is coupled;

a first pressing member for aligning the wiper arm in a direction perpendicular to the guide rail by rotating the cam member while the carrier unit is moving in a forward direction along the guide rail; and

a second pressing member for aligning the wiper arm in a direction parallel to the guide rail by rotating the cam member while the carrier unit is moving in a reverse direction along the guide rail.

The linear reciprocating wiper system provided with a parking structure may include: a driving wheel installed at one end of the guide rail and rotated by a driving motor;

a driven wheel installed at the other end of the guide rail; and

a power transmission member connected to the drive wheel and the driven wheel and fixed to the carrier unit.

It is preferable that the first pressing member is fixed to the guide rail, and

the second pressing member is fixed to a driving wheel cover fixed to the guide rail.

It is preferable that the carrier unit includes a plurality of rollers, and

the plurality of rollers are configured to move along a roller guide formed on both side walls of the guide rail.

The carrier unit is provided with a rotation limiting stopper for limiting a rotation range of the cam member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1is a perspective view of a wiper system according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2is an exploded perspective view of main components of a wiper system shown inFIG. 1;FIG. 3is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-Ill shown inFIG. 1.FIG. 4is a view showing an arrangement state of a wiper arm when the wiper system shown inFIG. 1is in a wiping operation state.FIG. 5is a view showing an arrangement state of a wiper arm in a parking state of the wiper system illustrated inFIG. 1.FIG. 6is a diagram schematically showing a cam member at a moment when the cam member is switched from a wiping operation state to a parking state in a wiper system according to the present invention.FIG. 7is a view schematically showing the cam member after the cam member is completely converted to a parking state in a wiper system according to the present invention.FIG. 8is a diagram schematically showing a cam member when the cam member is switched from a parking state to a wiping operation state in the wiper system according to the present invention.FIG. 9is a diagram schematically showing a process of switching from a wiping operation state to a parking state in the wiper system according to the present invention.FIG. 10is a diagram schematically showing a process of switching from a parking state to a wiping state in the wiper system according to the present invention.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 10, a linear reciprocating wiper system10(hereinafter referred to as “wiper parking system”) provided with a parking structure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a guide rail20, a carrier unit30, a drive wheel40, a driven wheel50, a power transmission member60, a cam member70, a wiper arm80, a first pressing member91, and a second pressing member92.

The guide rail20is a rolled product or an extruded structure extending in a linear form. That is, the guide rail20is, for example, a structure processed in a straight or curved form. The guide rail20may be installed in a direction parallel to a ground in the vehicle. In addition, the guide rail20may be installed long in a width direction of the vehicle. The guide rail20may be installed along the lower end of a window. The guide rail20may have a constant curvature along a longitudinal direction depending on the design shape of the vehicle. A roller guide25protruding inward may be provided on both side walls of the inner side of the guide rail20. The roller guide25is coupled to a roller32to be described later so that the carrier unit30can move smoothly.

The carrier unit30is coupled to be slidable on the guide rail20. The carrier unit30is installed to be reciprocated in a longitudinal direction of the guide rail20. The carrier unit30includes a roller32. A plurality of rollers32may be provided. In this embodiment, four rollers32are provided. The roller32is coupled to roll along a roller guide25provided on the guide rail20and rolls along the roller guide25. The roller32is installed to be rotatable in the carrier unit30.

The driving wheel40is installed at one end of the guide rail20. The guide rail20is rotated by a drive motor42. The driving wheel40may be assembled to one end of the guide rail20by a driving wheel cover45. The drive wheel cover45may be fixed to the guide rail20by means such as bolts or screws. The rotation direction of the driving wheel40is changed by the forward or reverse rotation of a driving motor42.

The driven wheel50is installed at the other end of the guide rail20. The driven wheel50is installed to be rotatable on the guide rail20. It is preferable that the rotation axis of the driving wheel40and the rotation axis of the driven wheel50are arranged to be parallel to each other.

The power transmission member60is connected to transmit the power of the driving wheel40and the driven wheel50. The power transmission member60may be, for example, any one of components such as a drive belt, a wire, a chain, a ball screw, and a gear. For example, when the power transmission member60is a driving belt, the power transmission member60circulates between the driving wheel40and the driven wheel50. It is preferable that the power transmission member60is disposed inside the guide rail20. The power transmission member60is fixed to the carrier unit30. Accordingly, as the power transmission member60moves in a forward or reverse direction, the carrier unit30moves along the guide rail20.

The cam member70is installed to be rotatable on the carrier unit30. A pivot shaft72to which the wiper arm80is coupled is provided on the cam member70. The wiper arm80may be detachably installed on the pivot shaft72in a one-touch form. The cam member70changes the arrangement direction of the wiper arm80by contacting the first pressing member91and the second pressing member92to be described later. The cam member70is disposed on the carrier unit30. The cam member70is disposed to be rotatable in the carrier unit30through a means such as a rolling bearing. The cam member70is installed so that it may be rotated by a rotational torque that is not rotated by a frictional force, wherein the frictional force is a force such that the blade82installed on the wiper arm80contacts the surface of the window glass100to remove foreign substances. That is, the cam member70keeps the wiper arm80in a vertical state with the guide rail20when the wiper is operated in the forward and reverse direction in the state where the wiper arm80is spread on the surface of the window glass100

The wiper arm80is coupled to the cam member70. The wiper arm80moves integrally with the cam member70. The blade82is coupled to the wiper arm80.

The first pressing member91is a structure that rotates the cam member70while the carrier unit30moves in the forward direction along the guide rail20. The first pressing member91may be fixed to the guide rail20by welding or the like. The first pressing member91rotates the cam member70by using the force that the carrier unit30moves in the forward direction, thereby aligning the wiper arm80in a direction perpendicular to the guide rail20. The first pressing member91acts as a structure preventing the carrier unit30from moving in a state in which the wiper arm80is parallel to the guide rail20. Meanwhile, the first pressing member91acts as a structure that does not interfere with the movement of the carrier unit30in a state in which the wiper arm80is perpendicular to the guide rail20. That is, the first pressing member91may interfere with the cam member70or eliminate interference with the cam member70as the cam member70rotates.

The second pressing member92is installed to rotate the cam member70while the carrier unit30moves in the reverse direction along the guide rail. The second pressing member92rotates the cam member70by using the force that the carrier unit30moves in the reverse direction. The second pressing member92aligns the wiper arm80in a direction parallel to the guide rail20. The second pressing member92may be provided as a structure fixed to the driving wheel cover45or a structure integrated with the driving wheel cover45.

As shown inFIGS. 6 to 8, the carrier unit30may include a rotation limiting stopper34that limits the rotation range of the cam member70. The rotation limiting stopper34defines a maximum rotation range between the parking position and the wiping position of the cam member70. A bumping portion74that collides with the rotation limiting stopper34may be provided on the rotation shaft of the cam member70.

The operating effect of the wiper system10including the above-described components will be described in detail by taking the operation process of the wiper as an example.

First, a process of switching the wiper from a wiping position to a parking position will be described.

A process of converting from the operating state of the wiper shown inFIG. 4to the parking state of the wiper shown inFIG. 5will be described.

In the state as shown inFIG. 4, the driving wheel40moves the power transmission member60by reverse rotation of the driving motor42to move the carrier unit30in a direction closer to the driving wheel40. The carrier unit30moves to the left without interference with the first pressing member91inFIG. 4. The carrier unit30moves to the left so that the most protruding portion of the cam member70contacts the second pressing member92. As the carrier unit30continues to move to the left, the cam member70rotates clockwise as shown inFIG. 9by the second pressing member92. When the cam member70is rotated by 90° in the clockwise direction, the wiper arm80is aligned in a direction parallel to the guide rail20. In addition, the bumping portion74of the cam member70is blocked by the rotation limiting stopper34provided in the carrier unit30so that the cam member70may not rotate any more. Through this process, the wiper system according to the present invention is completely switched to the parking state. In the parking state, the wiper arm80is separated from the window glass100and aligned in a direction parallel to the guide rail20, thereby providing effects that the possibility that the wiper arm80is unexpectedly damaged by equipment such as an automatic car wash is reduced, beautiful appearance is provided, and the wiper does not interfere with the driver's view when driving.

Now, a process of converting from the parking state illustrated inFIG. 5to the operating state of the wiper illustrated inFIG. 4will be described.

In the state as shown inFIG. 5, the driving wheel40moves the power transmission member60by the forward rotation of the driving motor42to move the carrier unit30in a direction away from the driving wheel40. As the carrier unit30moves to the right from the state shown inFIG. 5, the cam member70is spaced apart from the second pressing member92and gradually moves away. Subsequently, the carrier unit30moves to the right so that the cam member70contacts the first pressing member91. As the carrier unit30continues to move to the right, the cam member70rotates in a counterclockwise direction as shown inFIG. 10by the first pressing member91. The wiper arm80is aligned in a direction perpendicular to the guide rail20while the cam member70is rotated by 90° in the counterclockwise direction. In addition, the bumping portion74of the cam member70is blocked by the rotation limiting stopper34provided in the carrier unit30so that the bumping portion74does not rotate any more. Through this process, the wiper system according to the present invention is completely switched to the wiper operation state. In the wiper system, the carrier unit30performs a reciprocating linear motion while the wiper is operating, thereby effectively removing foreign matter from the window glass100.

As described above, the linear reciprocating wiper system provided with the parking structure according to the present invention is configured such that the wiper arm is rotated in the linear movement direction of the wiper in the parked state, so that the linear reciprocating wiper system provides the effect that the wiper does not interfere with the driver's view, the durability thereof is improved as damage is prevented by unexpected impacts, and the appearance is beautiful.

In addition, the wiper system according to the present invention may secure a wipe area capable of effectively removing foreign substances from the window glass by maintaining the wiper arm perpendicular to the guide rail in the wiper operation state.