Machine element or mechanism – Elements – Pitmans and connecting rods
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-22
2001-02-27
Bucci, David A. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Elements
Pitmans and connecting rods
C074S57900F, C015S250310
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192775
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a link connecting rod to be used for transmitting the power of the wiper motor to the pivot shaft in the wiper apparatus mounted on motor vehicles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There has been known a link connecting rod provided with plate portions
51
formed flatwise by compressing respective ends of a tubular body
50
as shown in
FIG. 10
, as a conventional link connecting rod used for transmitting the power of the wiper motor to the pivot shaft of the wiper apparatus. The plate portions
51
are fitted respectively with ball retainers of the ball joints, one of the ball retainers is connected with a ball pin secured to a motor arm fixed to the output shaft of the wiper motor through a spherical pair, and another ball retainer is connected with a ball pin secured to a pivot arm fixed to the pivot shaft through a spherical pair, whereby the rotational power of the wiper motor is converted into reciprocative rotation of the pivot arm.
However, in the aforementioned conventional link connecting rod, the center
0
1
of the plate portion
51
, which is formed by compressing one end of the tubular body
51
, is liable to deviate from the central axis
0
2
of the tubular body
50
, therefore the plate portion may be stressed at a position deviated from the central axis
0
2
of the tubular body
50
and there is a problem in that it is not possible to sufficiently utilize the original strength of the tubular body
50
in a case where the large deviation comes out between the center
0
1
of the plate portion
51
and the central axis
0
2
of the tubular body
50
. Furthermore, there is another problem in that it is difficult to obtain sufficient bending strength at a position between the plate portion
51
and the tubular body
50
. In this case, although it is possible to improve the bending strength of the plate portion
51
by using a pipe with larger diameter as the tubular body
50
, it is unfavorable in view of weight of the wiper apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, this invention is made in the light of the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it is an object to provide a link connecting rod for a wiper apparatus having sufficient strength even in a case of applying a smaller pipe in diameter to the tubular rod body.
The construction of the link connecting rod for the wiper apparatus according to this invention for accomplishing the above-mentioned object is characterized by comprising a tubular rod body having a ring-shaped cross section; a plate portion flattened by compressing an end of the tubular rod body, and having a first plane, a second plane on the reverse side of the first plane and a retainer hole to be formed with a ball retainer through insert moulding; a semicylindrical portion disposed in a position between the plate portion and the rod body, and having a hollow semicircular cross section and a third plane ranging with the second plane of the plate portion on the same plane; a first brim portion formed by compressing one side of the semicylindrical portion, and having a fourth plane and a fifth plane ranging with the third plane of the semicylindrical portion on the same plane on the reverse side of the fourth plane; and a second brim portion formed by compressing another side of the semicylindrical portion, and having a sixth plane and a seventh plane ranging with the third plane of the semicylindrical portion on the same plane on the reverse side of the sixth plane.
The link connecting rod according to a preferred embodiment of this invention is characterized in that the first and second brim portions are disposed away from the plate portion at a predetermined distance.
The link connecting rod for the wiper apparatus according to another preferred embodiment of this invention is characterized by further comprising a arched portion ranging from a position between the first plane of the plate portion and the fourth plane of the first brim portion to a position between the first plane of the plate portion and the sixth plane of the second brim portion.
The link connecting rod for the wiper apparatus according to the other embodiment of this invention is characterized in that the third plane of the semicylindrical portion is formed with a concavity. Furthermore, the link connecting rod according to the other embodiment of this invention is characterized in that the center of the plate portion is in agreement with the central axis of the rod body.
In the link connecting rod for the wiper apparatus according to this invention, which is provided with the semicylindrical portion having the semicircular cross section and the brim portions on the both sides of the semicylindrical portion, and so formed that the second plane of the plate portion, the third plane of the semicylindrical portion, the fifth and seventh planes of the first and second brim portions may be on the same one plane. Accordingly, it is hard to deviate the center of the plate portion from the central axis of the rod body at the time of forming the plate portion by pressing the end of the rod body flatwise, so that the strength of the link connecting rod is improved even if a small pipe in the diameter is applied to the rod body.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5165306 (1992-11-01), Hellon
patent: 5313697 (1994-05-01), Kanno et al.
patent: 2 165 912 (1986-04-01), None
patent: 61-91378 (1986-05-01), None
patent: 4-334643 (1992-11-01), None
Bucci David A.
Jidosha Denki Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Joyce William C
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
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