Windshield wiper inertia absorption apparatus and method
US6393653B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 19, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 28, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 19, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/182
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A windshield wiper apparatus for a vehicle includes an energy absorption member coupled between the moving drive arm and stationary structure which provides an opposing force to the movement of the wiper arm to absorb a portion of the inertial energy of the wiper arm as the wiper arm approaches one of at least an outwipe end limit and an inwipe end limit of a wipe pattern to reduce the impact forces on the wiper apparatus at the point of reversal of the wiper arm. The energy absorption member is in the form of a spring or compressive member arranged to store energy during movement of the wiper arm toward one or both of the end limits and to release the stored energy back to the wiper apparatus as the wiper arm reverses direction at each end limit. The energy absorption member is actively coupled to the drive arm only during a predetermined angular portion of the angular rotation of the drive arm which coincides with the region of increased mechanical advantage in the drive linkage.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.