Concentric drive bearings for actuating two actuator rods for a

Machine element or mechanism – Mechanical movements – Rotary to or from reciprocating or oscillating

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Details

1525031, 384208, 384901, 403 56, 403128, 403135, B60S 118, F16C 1106

Patent

active

056807929

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to gears for coupling actuator rods for actuating windscreen wipers to a driving shaft.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In windscreen wipers it is frequently desirable to actuate two wiper arms by a common electromotor. As the driving shaft of the electromotor performs a rotating movement the same will have to be converted into an oscillating movement for actuating the wiper arms. This, as a rule, is effected with the aid of one or more crank levers and actuator rods associated thereto.
EP-OS 399 811 teaches to actuate two wiper arms in parallel by a common electromotor. According to DE-OS 3 347 441 two ball bolts are provided on a crank rod. Corresponding provisions are suggested by EP-OS 316 832 disclosing dual ball bolts serving to hinge push rods to a lever.
A disadvantage involved with designs of the afore-mentioned type resides in that such dual ball bolts require a relatively large assembly and operating space which, frequently, is not available especially in the front structure of a motor vehicle. In addition, the state-of-the-art dual ball bolts projecting in two different directions will have to be sufficiently strong in order to take up the lever forces occurring thereby.
It is an object of the invention to provide a gear which is particularly flat and, hence, offering assembly and operating space-saving advantages. Beyond that, the force for driving several wiper arms is focused on one point only to reduce the load on the wiper drive, with the forces of the actuated rods extending in one plane.
This is accomplished by tapping the force required for actuating the two wiper arms from a common point. Hence, the force can be distributed through the actuator rods within a common plane which will result in substantially reduced space requirements and also in avoiding lever forces likely to have an adverse effect on the transmission of power.
A particularly simple solution in which the two actuator rods are given a substantially equivalent treatment with respect to one another regarding the operation thereof, is provided in a preferred embodiment in which the two bearing rings of the actuator rods are centrally nested with respect to one another and are commonly seated on the bearing bolt fixed to the motor crank.
To the extent that the geometric conditions do not permit an arrangement of this type it is advisable to use the combination of features shown in a second embodiment wherein one of the two actuator rods carries the bearing bolt whereas the motor crank is preferably arranged on the outer bearing ring, thereby embracing the bearing ring of the second actuator rod. The association of motor crank and second actuator rod can be exchanged so that the inner bearing ring can be connected to the motor crank and the outer bearing ring can be in communication with the second actuator rod.
In a variety of cases it may be adequate for the bearing rings to embrace one another or the ball bolt only in part, thereby resulting in a simplified assembly of the gear. If the gear is intended for accommodating strong forces it is preferred that the planes of symmetry of the two bearing rings are mating and/or the bearing bushes are embracing the bearing bolt and the second bearing bush, respectively, within a closed ring.
In order to accommodate, in a particularly simple manner, forces acting in the longitudinal direction of the bearing bolt to thereby avoid a separate lock acting in that direction, it is recommended to use bearing faces which are curved in the axial direction of the bearing bolt so that the first bearing ring surrounds the bearing bolt and the second bearing ring surrounds the first bearing ring in a way curved in the axial direction of the bolt, thereby forming faces in the longitudinal direction of the bolt. These faces undercut the bearing bolt and the outer face of the first bearing ring, respectively, thereby taking up a force acting in the axial direction of the bearing bolt.
In a preferred embodiment, the bearing faces, hence, form respectivel

REFERENCES:
patent: 3441300 (1969-04-01), Chow
patent: 3749431 (1973-07-01), Schmid et al.
patent: 4009502 (1977-03-01), Tamaki et al.
patent: 5209140 (1993-05-01), Eustache et al.
patent: 5473955 (1995-12-01), Stinson
English translation of the International Preliminary Examination Report for Appln PCT/EP94/00439 filed Feb. 16, 1994.

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