Abstract:
A windscreen wiping system ( 10 ) for automobiles has a fixing device ( 29 ) comprising at least three fixing mechanisms ( 32, 34  and  36 ) which are situated at a distance from each other. Two of these fixing mechanisms ( 32, 34 ) are situated on a connection line. The third fixing mechanism ( 36 ) is situated at a distance from said connection line. The fixing device ( 29 ) also comprises at least three receiving devices ( 54, 56, 58 ) in which the fixing mechanisms ( 32, 34, 36 ) can engage. A damping element ( 38 ) consisting of a vibration-damping material is provided between the fixing mechanisms ( 32, 34  and  36 ) and the receiving devices ( 54, 56, 58 ). According to the invention, said damping element ( 38 ) is mounted on a part ( 32, 34, 36 ) of the fixing device ( 29 ) that is situated on the side of the wiping system, in order to simplify assembly.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a wiping system for a windshield of an automobile with a screwless securing mechanism which has at least three securing members at a distance from each other, two of which lie on a connecting line and the third is at a distance from the connecting line, and which comprises at least three receiving devices which the securing members can engage, wherein a damping element of a vibration-damping material is furnished between at least one securing member and the corresponding receiving device.  
           [0002]    A securing mechanism of this kind is known from DE 198 33 404 A1. The disclosed wiping system comprises a load-bearing structure on which a total of three securing members configured as cylindrical studs are provided. These securing members are located on the system-side. They are inserted axially into receiving openings which are in special holders which are attached to the vehicle body, thus on the vehicle side. To decouple vibration from the wiper system from the vehicle body, the receiving openings which are on the vehicle side are provided with rubber grommets which are infixed in matching breakthroughs in the retainers. The studs in turn are inserted into the grommets. Studs, receiving openings and rubber grommets together form the securing mechanism for the windshield wiper system.  
           [0003]    The disadvantage with this wiper system, however, is that its installation to the vehicle is relatively time-consuming and cannot be automated.  
           [0004]    The object of the present invention is, therefore, to further improve a wiper system of the type named initially in such a way that it is possible to install it even more quickly but still securely.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0005]    This object is achieved in combination with a wiper system by the damping element being attached on the wiper system-side part of the mechanism.  
           [0006]    The measures taken in accordance with the invention are as simple as they are surprisingly effective:  
           [0007]    In contrast to the prior art, in which the damping elements are set into the receiving devices on the vehicle side, under the invention at least one damping element is fastened to a part of the securing mechanism on the wiper system-side; it is thus connected to this system-side part even when the windshield wiper system has not yet been attached to the vehicle. The system-side part of the securing mechanism of the windshield wiper system, which is as yet not installed into the vehicle, is readily accessible, whereby attachment of the damping element can be carried out more easily, more quickly, more reliably and, if necessary, automated.  
           [0008]    Advantageous improvements to the invention are given in the dependent claims.  
           [0009]    In one aspect of the invention, appropriate damping elements are fastened to all the wiper system-side parts of the securing mechanism. This maximizes the aforementioned time benefits.  
           [0010]    Further, it is particularly preferred if the securing members are furnished on the wiper system-side and the receiving devices are furnished on the vehicle side and at least one securing member includes a cylindrical stud onto which the damping element is pushed. This involves a design for the securing members which is of optimally simple construction and economical of material. On the vehicle side, only cylindrical holes are necessary, which are simple to produce. The damping element can easily be pushed onto a cylindrical stud without having to consider any special radial positioning of the damping element with respect to the cylindrical stud.  
           [0011]    In another improvement to the invention, the damping element is fastened to the securing member, specifically secured by means of a bolt. This improvement ensures that the damping element cannot become detached from the securing member during installation and also in subsequent operation.  
           [0012]    In another improvement, the securing members are configured as studs in one piece with the wiper bearing housings, or with the motor casing or the motor mount. This reduces the expense for the production of the wiper system. Additionally, a favorable geometry regarding the attachment points is realized through this measure.  
           [0013]    It is furthermore advantageous if the securing members configured as studs have a thickened shape at their free end, like the cap of a mushroom, in accordance with a further aspect. The damping element positioned on the pin is thereby secured against slipping down axially, and with a suitable shape for the thickened end, specifically tapering conically toward the end, it can be employed advantageously during installation of the wiper system to the vehicle as an aid to insertion into the corresponding receiver.  
           [0014]    Preferably an annular shoulder against which the damping element bears is furnished on at least one wiper system-side component. In this way, axial positioning of the damping element with respect to the wiping system is particularly simple.  
           [0015]    Another improvement proceeds in the same direction, in which the damping element has a collar at its end on the system-side, with which it is supported on the system-side. In addition to the advantage of secure axial positioning of the damping element with respect to the wiper system-side component, this improvement to the invention ensures dependable decoupling of wiper system vibration from the vehicle.  
           [0016]    As was explained at the beginning, the vehicle-side receiving devices in the prior art are infixed in separate holders. This is necessary because in the prior art the rubber grommets are infixed on the vehicle side, which is economically possible only through the accessibility provided by separate holders. As a result of the damping element under the invention being attached to the wiper system-side part of the securing mechanism, this reason for a separate holder no longer exists. This is taken into account by an improvement of the invention in which at least one vehicle-side receiving device is located directly in the structural sheet metal of the vehicle.  
           [0017]    It is particularly preferred in this arrangement if at least one receiving device on the vehicle side consists of a draw in the sheet metal. A draw of this type forms a locating bushing in which specifically a cylindrical securing member and a matching damping element can be securely retained. In addition, a sheet metal draw of this type is extremely simple to affect in a metal panel of a vehicle.  
           [0018]    A good connection between the damping element and the wiper system-side part is achieved if the damping element is sprayed onto the system-side component.  
           [0019]    Finally, a simple connection of the receiving device is possible if the securing member can be retained by clips to the securing device.  
           [0020]    The present invention also relates to a method of securing a windshield wiper system to a vehicle, wherein at least three securing members at a distance from each other and at least three receiving devices are furnished which the securing members can engage. In order to make it easier to perform the procedure and to be able to automate it as required, it is proposed under the invention that first one damping element of a vibration-damping material is attached to at least one system-side component of the mechanism and then the system-side component with the damping element is inserted into or installed onto the corresponding vehicle-side component. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0021]    In what follows, aspects of the inventions are explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a windshield wiper system with the wiper system-side area of a securing mechanism;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 shows a vehicle-side area of the securing mechanism of the windshield wiper system;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 shows a section along the line III-III in FIG. 2;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 shows an aspect of a securing member with the damping element pushed over it;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 shows a top view of an aspect of a receiving device;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 6 shows a front elevation of the receiving device from FIG. 5 and a corresponding securing member;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7 shows a top view of a further aspect of a receiving device;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 8 shows a longitudinal section through a further aspect of a receiving device with a corresponding securing member; and  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 9 shows a top view of the receiving device from FIG. 8. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0031]    A windshield wiper system for an automobile has the general reference numeral  10  in FIG. 1. It comprises tubular support structure  12  which has a bearing assembly  14  or  16  at each end. A wiper shaft  18  or  20  is axially secured and mounted to be rotatable in each bearing assembly  14  or  16  to receive a windshield wiper arm.  
         [0032]    A drive device  22  which operates on a coupling linkage  24  sits approximately in the center section of the support structure  12 . One end of the coupling linkage  24  is connected in an articulated manner to a crank  26 , which in turn is rigidly coupled to the wiper shaft  18 . The other end of the coupling linkage  24  is connected in an articulated manner to a crank  28 , which is rigidly coupled to the wiper shaft  20 .  
         [0033]    The windshield wiper system  10  can be attached by means of a securing mechanism  29  with a screwless push-in connection below a windshield  30  (see FIGS. 2 and 3) of an automobile body. To this end, each bearing assembly  14 ,  16  carries a cylindrical stud  32 ,  34  which project from the bearing assemblies  14 ,  16  parallel to each other and in the same direction, as well as at a right angle to the wiper shafts  18  and  20 . A further cylindrical stud has the reference numeral  36  and is rigidly attached to a spacer element  37  on the side of the drive device  22  facing away from the load-bearing structure  12 .  
         [0034]    While the axes of studs  32  and  34  lie approximately in the plane extended through the load-bearing structure  12  and the coupling linkage  24 , the axis of stud  36  is approximately at a right angle to this plane, thus also at a right angle to the longitudinal extension of the two studs  32  and  34 . Studs  32  and  34  are, in each case, a single piece with the bearing housings  14  or  16 , and stud  36  forms a single piece with the casing of the drive device  22 . Together, studs  32 ,  34  and  36  lie at the angles of a triangle and form a stable support base.  
         [0035]    A rubber grommet is pushed onto each of the cylindrical studs  32 ,  34  and  36  and secured with a bolt  40  to the individual studs  32 ,  34  and  36 . On the wiper system-side end, each rubber grommet  38  has a collar  42 . This collar in turn is supported against an annular shoulder  44  (FIG. 3), which is furnished on the specific stud  32 ,  34  or  36  (the annular shoulder  44  on stud  36  is not shown in FIG. 1). On the other end, each rubber grommet  38  has a thickened section in the manner of a possibly retaining ring  46 , which can be conical and whose purpose will be examined in what follows.  
         [0036]    In the aspect in accordance with FIG. 4, in comparison to FIG. 2, in place of a bolt  40  a mushroom cap-shaped thickening is formed on the free end  70  of the particular stud  32 ,  34 ,  36 , over which the thickened section rubber grommet is pushed. The thickened end  70  is tapered in the manner of a cone, where this taper still continues at the outer edge of the damping element in order to facilitate insertion of the stud  32 ,  34 ,  36  in the direction of the arrow  71  into the corresponding receiver  54 ,  56 ,  58  when the wiper device is installed to the automobile. At the opposite end, the damping element  38  has the previously described collar  42 . In this aspect, a conical expansion/enlargement of the hole extending through the damping element  38  can be seen at this end of the damping element  38 , the enlargement making it easier to push the damping element  38  over the thickened end  70 .  
         [0037]    As can be seen from FIG. 2, two holders  50  and  52  are spot welded to a structural metal panel  48  of the vehicle. A circular receiving opening  54  is introduced into the holder  50 , and a receiving opening  56  configured as an elongated hole is introduced into the holder  52 . Configuring receiving opening  56  as an elongated hole serves to compensate for manufacturing tolerances when positioning the holders  48  and  50  or during production of the windshield wiper system  10 .  
         [0038]    A further receiving opening  58  is located directly in the structural metal panel  48 , as can be seen from FIG. 3. All the receiving openings  54 ,  56  and  58  are effected as draws in the panel, which include a cylindrical tube section  60  lying at a right angle to the plane of the structural metal panel  48  or the holders  50  and  52 , respectively, the tubular section forms a bushing for the studs  32 ,  34  and  36  and the rubber grommets  38 .  
         [0039]    The studs  32 ,  34   36 , the rubber grommets  38  and the receiving openings  54 ,  56  and  58  together form the securing mechanism  29  for the windshield wiper system  10 . Installation proceeds as follows:  
         [0040]    First, the rubber grommets  38  are pushed onto the studs  32 ,  34  and  36 , in such a manner that they lie with their collar  42  against the annular shoulder  44  of the studs  32 ,  34  or  36 . In the case of the aspect from FIG. 4, the rubber grommet  38  is axially secured by the mushroom cap-shaped, thickened end  70  of the stud over which it is pushed as it temporarily expands. In the aspect from FIG. 2, the bolt  40  is installed and tightened after pushing on the rubber grommet  38 , whereby the rubber grommet  38  is firmly attached to the individual stud  32 ,  34  or  36  (alternatively, the rubber grommet could also be sprayed or vulcanized on, whereby these assembly steps are eliminated). Now the windshield wiper system  10  is brought to the installation location, and the studs  32 ,  34  and  36  with the pre-installed rubber grommets  38  are inserted into the receiving openings  54 ,  56  and  58  until the collar  42  on each rubber grommet  38  abuts the structural panel  48  or the holders  50  and  53 , and, if present, the retaining ring  46  at the end of the rubber grommet  38  emerges from the tube section  60 , and the rubber grommet  38  latches with each receiving opening  54 ,  56  or  58 .  
         [0041]    In this way, simple installation and at the same time secure retention of the windshield wiper system  10  to the vehicle is ensured, without the use of any screws.  
         [0042]    In FIGS.  5  to  9 , several aspects of “clip attachments” are shown. Parts which have the equivalent functions as previously described parts have the same reference numeral and are not described again in detail.  
         [0043]    In the case of these clip attachments, the receiving device  54  is configured as a clamp and includes two flexible jaws  62 . The width B of the jaws  62  must be matched relatively exactly to the dimension C on the damping element  38  between snap ring  46  and collar  42  on the stud  32  to prevent axial movement of the stud  32  with respect to the receiving device  54  in the installed position.  
         [0044]    The receiving devices  54  in FIGS. 5 and 7 differ from each other in the design of their jaws  62 , which in the case of receiving device  54  from FIG. 7 have an additional straight flexion  64  through which the flexibility and the potential opening angle of the receiving device  54  are increased.  
         [0045]    An aspect of a clamp-shaped receiving device  54  is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, which is configured in one piece with a sheet-metal holder  50  on the vehicle side. The holder  50  includes a 90° raised edge  66  which cut in its upper area is from the side, not quite as far as the middle. The sheet metal strips obtained in this way are bent such that corresponding clamping jaws  62  are formed.  
         [0046]    The clamp-shaped receiving devices  52  have the advantage that they allow a secure latching fit with a corresponding damping element  38 , and during installation of the windshield wiper system  10  to the vehicle almost unlimited installation directions are possible.