FORM 2
THE PATENT ACT, 1970,
(39 OF 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULE, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(SEE SECTION 10; RULE 13)

“ENERGY DISSIPATING WIPER MOUNTING BRACKET FOR MOTOR VEHICLE”

MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LIMITED
AN INDIAN COMPANY,
R & D CENTER, AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR,
89, M.I.D.C., SATPUR,
NASHIK – 422 007,
MAHARASHTRA, INDIA.

THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES AND ASCERTAINS THE NATURE OF THIS INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED

FIELD OF INVENTION:-

The present invention is related to the field of automotive components. More particularly, the present invention is related to an energy dissipating wiper mounting bracket mounted in the front plenum. It will get collapsed/deformed once it gets loaded during Vehicle- Pedestrian Collision.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION:-

Pedestrian safety is a major concern of automobile manufacturers. Vehicle manufactures are always trying to minimize pedestrian injuries in vehicle collision by making a variety of modifications in the vehicle. According to statistics head injuries are the major cause of death in pedestrian vehicle collision. To reduce the pedestrian injuries during the impact, softer front ends on vehicles have been implemented on different subsystems like bumpers, bonnet, fender mountings, wiper pivots and etc.

A vehicle generally includes specific hard points such as the hood hinges and the wiper linkages which can cause severe injury to a pedestrian during collision. A vehicles impact line is defined by points of contact made by a pedestrian upon impact of a vehicle. As a result of the different makes and models of automobiles and the physical features of a pedestrian, the impact line can vary. Despite these variances, the region where the hood meets with the windshield is a common point of contact on virtually all impact lines. This region is named as plenum outer. Wiper system mounted in this region.

The present invention on energy dissipating wiper mounting bracket addresses the minimization of pedestrian injuries in vehicle-pedestrian collisions. Wiper link was a hard point for pedestrian head impact, to minimize that injury energy dissipating wiper mounting bracket was developed.

Accordingly invention provides an energy dissipating wiper mounting bracket for the motor vehicle for mounting a wiper arm in the front plenum that supports the wiper assembly as it moves across the surface to be wiped and a linkage assembly having a pivot shaft assembly that interconnects the wiper arm assembly to a drive mechanism and the said bracket comprises three sides forming hat section shape; the said first side is 1070 draft with second side; the second side is 900 to the vertical plane and third side is 1000 draft with said second side; the said first side and third side provided with one or more collapsible beads at distant and the wiper link get mounted on the second side.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES:-

Figure 1 shows location of the wiper mounting bracket in wiper system on a motor vehicle.

Figure 2 shows sectional view of the wiper mounting bracket in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 3 shows collapsing stages of the wiper mounting bracket while dissipating the impact energy in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION:-

Windshield wiper system commonly include a wiper assembly that contacts the surface to be wiped, a wiper arm that supports the wiper assembly as it moves across the surface to be wiped, and a linkage assembly having a pivot shaft assembly that interconnects the wiper arm assembly to a drive mechanism. The pivot shaft assembly transfers movement of the linkage assembly to the wiper arm. Normally the pivot assembly fixed below or above the impact line for a vehicle pedestrian impact. This will lead to a risk of causing greater injury to pedestrian upon Impact.

The bracket is designed such that during collision when head impacts the wiper link or pivot arm the load will transfer to the bracket. The bracket will dissipate the energy while deforming or collapsing. Due to this the head injury is reduced.

The bracket is made of a hat section as shown in the diagram. It has three sides (i) Side A (ii) Side B (iii) Side C. Side A is 107° draft with side B, side B is 90° with the vertical plane and Side C is 100° draft with side B .In Side A and Side C collapsible beads provided and in Side B the wiper link get mount.

The bracket is made by a single strip by bending to form hat section with three sides (A, B and C). The first side A is 1070 draft with second side B and third side C is 1000 draft with the said second side B and said second side is 900 draft with vertical plane. The portion of strip forming first side and third side provided with one or more collapsible beads and portion of strip forming second side provided with mounting hole at central part. Each of the said first side A and third side C having two number of collapsible beads as shown in the figure 2.

The bracket is having the shape of hat so the sides are having internal surface and external surface. The said first and third sides having beads on surface external of hat section ( figure 2) so that the collapsing the bracket will occur in stages due to impact as shown in figure 3

Once head impacts the wiper link the load will transfer to side A, and Side C by providing more draft angle in Side C and Side B it initiate the collapse. By providing the collapsible beads the bracket deform in two stages giving optimum result.

In some prior art concepts, once the head impacted in the wiper pivot the wiper pivot link bracket will break and provides the space due to this the injury get reduced. However, in the present invention once the head impacted in the wiper link the wiper mounting bracket dissipate the energy through plastic/elastic bending and plastic deformation and reduces the severity of the injury.

The energy dissipating bracket of the present invention is easy to manufacture and user friendly to vary the bracket stiffness through bead, draft angle, side flange and thickness. Therefore, the damage to the wiper assembly minimizes and same assembly can be re-used after accident which consequently leads to reduction in the cost of repairing the system. The same bracket will work for pedestrian collisions ranging from small child to adult. The bracket of the present invention can be made of steel, aluminum and like other materials fulfilling the engineering requirements.

WE CLAIM:-
1. An energy dissipating wiper mounting bracket for the motor vehicle for mounting a wiper arm in the front plenum that supports the wiper assembly as it moves across the surface to be wiped and a linkage assembly having a pivot shaft assembly that interconnects the wiper arm assembly to a drive mechanism and the said bracket comprises three sides forming hat section shape; the said first side is 1070 draft with second side; the second side is 900 to the vertical plane and third side is 1000 draft with said second side; the said first side and third side provided with one or more collapsible beads at distant and the wiper link get mounted on the second side.
2. A bracket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said bracket is made by a single strip by bending to form hat section with three sides; the first side is 1070 draft with second side and third side is 1000 draft with the said second side and said second side is 900 draft with vertical plane; and portion of strip forming first side and third side provided with one or more collapsible beads and portion of strip forming second side provided with mounting hole at central part.
3. a bracket as claimed in claims 1 to 2 where in each of the said first and third side having two number of collapsible beads.
4. A bracket as claimed in claims 1 and 2 wherein the said first and third sides having beads on surface external of hat section.
5. A bracket as claimed in claims 1 and 3 wherein the said sides of bracket made of steel, aluminum and like other materials fulfilling the engineering requirements.