Systems and methods of verifying the assembly of a vehicle wiper assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11555752-B2
Application number	US-202016789111-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 12, 2020
Priority date	Feb 12, 2020
Publication date	Jan 17, 2023
Grant date	Jan 17, 2023

Abstract

A vehicle wiper linkage installation verification tool that includes a stabilizing bar, a first connector at a first end of the stabilizing bar, and a second connector at a second end of the stabilizing bar. The first connector and the second connector are engageable with wiper posts of a wiper assembly. A pulling tool is coupled to the stabilizing bar, wherein the pulling tool is engageable with a linkage arm of the wiper assembly, and is configured to pull the linkage arm toward the stabilizing bar.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A verification tool for use in determining if a vehicle wiper is securely assembled, the verification tool comprising:
a stabilizing bar extending between a first end and an opposite second end along a longitudinal axis;
a first connector at the first end of the stabilizing bar, and a second connector at the second end of the stabilizing bar, wherein the first connector and the second connector are removably engageable with wiper posts of a wiper assembly; and
a pulling tool coupled to the stabilizing bar, wherein the pulling tool is engageable with a linkage arm of the wiper assembly, and is configured to pull the linkage arm toward the stabilizing bar along a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the stabilizing bar longitudinal axis, wherein the verification tool is removed from the wiper assembly after the pulling tool pulls on the linkage arm.

2. The tool in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the pulling tool comprises:
a first pulling member and a second pulling member spaced from each other;
an actuator configured to selectively translate the first pulling member relative to the second pulling member; and
a hook member coupled to the first pulling member, wherein the hook member is engageable with the linkage arm.

3. The tool in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the pulling tool further comprises a tool connector operably coupled to the actuator for driving the actuator.

4. The tool in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the actuator comprises a ball screw linear actuator.

5. The tool in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the pulling tool is translatable along the stabilizing bar between the first connector and the second connector.

6. The tool in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing bar is selectively extendible and retractable to modify a distance between the first connector and the second connector.

7. A verification system for determining if a wiper assembly is securely assembled, the verification system comprising:
a verification tool comprising:
a stabilizing bar extending between a first end and an opposite second end along a longitudinal axis;
a first connector at the first end of the stabilizing bar, and a second connector at the second end of the stabilizing bar, wherein the first connector and the second connector are removably engageable with wiper posts of a wiper assembly; and
a pulling tool coupled to the stabilizing bar, wherein the pulling tool is engageable with a linkage arm of the wiper assembly, and is configured to pull the linkage arm towards the stabilizing bar in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the stabilizing bar longitudinal axis; and

a torque tool removably coupled to the pulling tool, wherein the torque tool is configured to actuate the pulling tool for pulling the linkage arm toward the stabilizing bar, wherein the verification tool is removed from the wiper assembly after the pulling tool pulls on the linkage arm.

8. The system in accordance with claim 7 further comprising a controller configured to direct the torque tool to perform a programmed verification operation that includes pulling the linkage arm towards the stabilizing bar with an increased pulling force until a predetermined force is applied to the linkage arm by the pulling tool.

9. The system in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine that the linkage arm is securely assembled within the wiper assembly when the increased pulling force reaches predetermined force; and
determine the linkage arm is not securely assembled within the wiper assembly when the predetermined force has not been reached within a preset number of revolutions of the torque tool.

10. The system in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the pulling tool comprises:
a first pulling member and a second pulling member spaced from each other;
an actuator configured to selectively translate the first and second pulling members relative to each other; and
a hook member coupled to the first pulling member, wherein the hook member is engageable with the linkage arm.

11. The system in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the pulling tool further comprises a tool connector coupled to the second pulling member, and coupled to the actuator for driving the actuator.

12. The system in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the actuator comprises a ball screw linear actuator.

13. The system in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the pulling tool is translatable along the stabilizing bar between the first connector and the second connector.

14. The system in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the stabilizing bar is selectively extendible and retractable to modify a distance between the first connector and the second connector.

15. A verification method for determining if a wiper assembly is securely assembled, the method comprising:
removably coupling a verification tool to the wiper assembly, the verification tool including:
a stabilizing bar extending between a first end and an opposite second end along a longitudinal axis;
a first connector at the first end of the stabilizing bar, and a second connector at the second end of the stabilizing bar, wherein the first connector and the second connector are coupled to wiper posts of the wiper assembly; and
a pulling tool coupled to the stabilizing bar, wherein the pulling tool is coupled to a linkage arm of the wiper assembly;

positioning the pulling tool at a first position on the stabilizing bar;
pulling, with the pulling tool, the linkage arm toward the stabilizing bar along a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the stabilizing bar longitudinal axis;
monitoring an amount of force applied to the linkage arm by the pulling tool;
comparing the amount of force to a predetermined force to determine if the linkage arm is securely assembled within the wiper assembly; and
removing the verification tool from the wiper assembly after the comparison.

16. The method in accordance with claim 15 further comprising:
pulling the linkage arm with an increased pulling force; and
determine that the linkage arm is securely assembled within the wiper assembly when the increased pulling force reaches the predetermined force.

17. The method in accordance with claim 15 , wherein pulling the linkage arm comprises:
using a torque tool to actuate the pulling tool, wherein the torque tool is configured to perform a programmed verification operation; and
monitoring a number of revolutions executed by the torque tool throughout performance of the programmed verification operation.

18. The method in accordance with claim 17 further comprising:
determining the linkage arm is not securely assembled within the wiper assembly when the predetermined force has not been reached within a preset number of revolutions of the torque tool
determining the linkage arm is securely assembled within the wiper assembly when the predetermined force is reached.

19. The method in accordance with claim 15 , further comprising positioning the pulling tool at a second position, different than the first position, on the stabilizing bar, and wherein pulling the linkage arm comprises pulling the linkage arm from different pulling locations corresponding to different locations of the pulling tool on the stabilizing bar.

20. The method in accordance claim 15 further comprising generating and storing wiper installation verification data.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Macarthur Benjamin B
• Deboer Benjamin Douglas

Classifications

• G01L5/0033 Primary

  applying a pulling force · CPC title

• G01L25/00

  Testing or calibrating of apparatus for measuring force, torque, work, mechanical power, or mechanical efficiency · CPC title

• G01M17/007 Primary

  Wheeled or endless-tracked vehicles (G01M17/08 takes precedence) · CPC title