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DE-102016203001-B4 - wiper rubber profile

DE102016203001B4DE 102016203001 B4DE102016203001 B4DE 102016203001B4DE-102016203001-B4

Abstract

Wiper rubber profile comprising a head part (12) for mechanically fixing the wiper rubber profile (10) to a wiper blade of a windshield wiper, further comprising a wiper lip (14) for cleaning a corresponding surface, in particular a motor vehicle windshield, and a tilting web (16) which connects the head part (12) to the wiper lip (14), in particular movably, characterized in that the wiper rubber profile (10) has at least a surface layer of a polymer that swells upon contact with water, wherein the wiper rubber profile (10) has a surface layer of a first layer (20, 20a) of a polymer with an optical appearance that differs from that of the surrounding wiper rubber surface, and a second layer (22, 22a) of the water-swellable polymer which at least partially or completely covers the first layer (20, 20a).

Inventors

  • Nicolaas Gotzen

Assignees

  • ROBERT BOSCH GMBH

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20160225

Claims (10)

  1. Wiper rubber profile comprising a head part (12) for mechanically fixing the wiper rubber profile (10) to a wiper blade of a windshield wiper, further comprising a wiper lip (14) for cleaning a corresponding surface, in particular a motor vehicle windshield, and a tilting bridge (16) which connects the head part (12) to the wiper lip (14), in particular movably connects, characterized in that the wiper rubber profile (10) has at least a surface layer of a polymer that swells when in contact with water, wherein the wiper rubber profile (10) has a surface layer of a first layer (20, 20a) of a polymer with an optical appearance that differs from that of the surrounding wiper rubber surface, and a second layer (22, 22a) of the polymer that swells when in contact with water, which at least partially or completely covers the first layer (20, 20a).
  2. wiper rubber profile after Claim 1 , characterized in that the polymer which swells under contact with water covers an area (20, 20a) of the wiper rubber profile (10) in particular completely, which has an optically altered perceptual impression compared with a surrounding surface of the wiper rubber profile (10).
  3. wiper rubber profile after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the polymer which swells upon contact with water is a derivative of an acrylic acid, in particular an acrylamide or a methacrylate.
  4. wiper rubber profile after Claim 3 , characterized in that the water-contact swellable polymer is a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), a diethylene glycol methacrylate or a mixture of a polyacrylate with a polyacrylamide.
  5. Wiper rubber profile according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the polymer capable of swelling upon contact with water is a particularly star-shaped polyethylene glycol.
  6. Wiper rubber profile according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the polymer which is capable of swelling upon contact with water additionally contains a hygroscopic filler, in particular particles of a hygroscopic glass.
  7. Wiper rubber profile according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the polymer which is capable of swelling under contact with water is provided in a lateral area of the wiper rubber lip (14) or in a lateral area of the tilting web (16).
  8. Wiper rubber profile according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the polymer with a modified optical appearance contains a color pigment, a UV indicator or an IR indicator.
  9. Method for operating a wiper rubber profile according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in a first step electromagnetic radiation emanating from a wiper rubber profile surface is detected, in particular that from a polymer positioned on the wiper rubber profile surface with a changed optical impression compared to that of the surrounding wiper rubber surface, and that in a second step, upon detection of a corresponding electromagnetic radiation or upon photographic detection of a changed wiper rubber surface, a conclusion is drawn that the wiper rubber profile (10) is worn, and in a third step, the replacement of the wiper rubber profile (10) is initiated.
  10. Using a wiper rubber profile according to one of the Claims 1 until 8 or a procedure according to Claim 10 in windshield wipers of motor vehicles, rail vehicles or aircraft, as well as in cleaning devices for window glass panes.

Description

State of the art The present invention relates to a wiper rubber profile, a method for operating the same and its use according to the preamble of the independent claims. It is well known that windshield wiper blades wear out over time, to a greater or lesser degree. This wear is caused by various environmental factors, such as exposure to UV light, temperature fluctuations, and the presence of dirt or ice on the windshield. Because this type of wear is a very slow process, it often goes unnoticed by drivers. In this regard, it is from the DE 102 35 566 A1 It is known to equip the wiper blade's wiping strip with a wear indicator. This can be electronic, mechanical, or chemical in nature. From the JP S63 47 969 U A wiper rubber profile is known, comprising a head part for mechanically fixing the wiper rubber profile to a wiper blade of a windshield wiper, further comprising a wiper lip for cleaning a corresponding surface, in particular a motor vehicle windshield, and a tilting bridge which connects the head part to the wiper lip in a movable manner. From the JP 2003 - 253 214 A is a thermosetting or vulcanizable resin material or an elastomer material known which has a silicone oil composition containing a silicone oil, wherein the coating composition contains a layered lattice structure material. From the JP 2004 - 338 529 A A wiper rubber profile is known which has on its surface a first layer of a polymer with an optical appearance that differs from that of the surrounding wiper rubber surface, and a second layer which covers the first layer at least partially, in particular completely. From the DE 10 2009 000 320 A1 is a wiper blade comprising an elastomer profile, a base layer which at least partially covers the surface of the elastomer profile and comprises at least one particulate lubricant and a water-soluble and/or water-dispersible top layer covering a base layer, as well as a manufacturing process for producing such a wiper blade. Advantages of the invention According to the invention, a wiper rubber profile, a method for operating the same and its use with the characterizing features of the independent patent claims are provided. This is based on the fact that a wiper rubber profile comprises a head section, which serves for the mechanical fixing of the wiper rubber profile to a wiping device such as a wiper blade of a motor vehicle, and a wiping lip, which is designed to clean a surface to be cleaned, such as a windshield of a motor vehicle, and which are movably connected to each other by means of a hinge, for example. According to the invention, the wiper rubber profile comprises, at least in a surface area, a polymer which exhibits an increase in volume upon contact with water. The advantage of this measure lies in the fact that, due to the volume increase of the water-swellable polymer when exposed to moisture and the subsequent volume decrease upon drying, the contour of the wiper profile made from this polymer changes. After numerous swelling cycles, comprising an initial volume increase and subsequent volume contraction upon drying, a sufficiently large and permanent contour change occurs. This change alters the visual appearance of the wiper profile in such a way that it is noticeable to a user, indicating wear and tear. Further advantageous embodiments of the present invention are the subject of the dependent claims. It is therefore advantageous if the polymer, which swells upon contact with water, covers an area, in particular a layer, of the wiper rubber profile, e.g., completely or at least partially, whereby the area or layer of the wiper rubber profile has a different optical appearance compared to a surrounding surface of the wiper rubber profile. In this way, the polymer that swells under water contact, together with the area comprising a material exhibiting a changed optical appearance, forms a wear indicator, since with continuous wear, based on a multitude of swell cycles of the polymer that swells under water contact, areas of the material with a changed optical appearance become visible to an observer, which are not optically accessible to an observer in the factory-new state of the wiper rubber profile. From this changing optical appearance of the wiper rubber profile in the area of the polymer that swells under water contact or of the material with a changed optical appearance, conclusions can be drawn about the degree of wear of the underlying wiper rubber profile. According to a further advantageous embodiment, the polymer capable of swelling upon contact with water is, for example, a derivative of an acrylic acid, in particular an acrylamide or a methacrylate. This can be, for example, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) or diethylene glycol methacrylate. Furthermore, mixtures of a polyacrylate with a polyacrylamide are suitable. In addition, star-shaped polyethylene glycols, in particular, exhibit suitable swelling behavior upon contact with water. They can therefore be used