Headlamp washer and wiper system
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorsWilliam H. Kolbe, Donald C. Unger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A headlamp washer and wiper system wherein washer fluid is delivered from a windshield washer pump to a washer and wiper holder located for bidirectional pivotal movement across the headlamp lens as actuated by a vacuum motor and controlled by an operator controlled program switch. During a downward stroke across the headlamp lens, the holder nozzles distribute water thereon for dissolving and loosening accumulated particulate and in an upward stroke the holder wiper blade wipes the lens free of the particulate.
Claims3
In a motor vehicle, a headlamp mounted on the vehicle and having a lens, a source of fluid pressure, a reservoir, pump means having inlet means and outlet means, said inlet means fluidly communicating with the reservoir, said pump means operative to draw solvent from the reservoir through said inlet means and dispense solvent through said outlet means, a wiper and washer holder supported on the vehicle adjacent the headlamp for pivotal movement between first and second positions at opposed locations with respect to the headlamp, a wiper blade on said holder adapted to wipe the surface of the lens during said movement, nozzle means on said holder fluidly connected to the outlet means of the pump means, fluid motor means operated by fluid pressure for moving the holder from said first position to said second position, spring means for returning said holder from said second position to said first position, and operator actuated switch means having an electrical switch portion for energizing the pump means for delivering solvent to said nozzle means for distribution on the lens as the wiper blade moves toward said second position, a fluid switch portion for connecting the fluid motor means with said source of fluid pressure to move the holder to the second position and actuating means for mechanically simultaneously actuating both said electrical switch portion and said fluid switch portion, whereby solvent is distributed on said lens from the nozzle means as the fluid motor means moves the holder to the second position and wiped therefrom by the blade as said spring means returns the holder to the first position.
A headlamp washing and wiping system for a motor vehicle having a headlamp mounted thereon with a lens subject to accumulations comprising:
- a source of fluid pressure, a reservoir;
- pump means having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet fluidly communicating with the reservoir, said pump means operative to draw solvent from the reservoir through said inlet and to dispense solvent through said outlet;
- a wiper and washer holder supported on the vehicle adjacent the headlamp for vertical pivotal movement with respect to the lens between an upper park position above the lens and a lower position adjacent the bottom of the lens;
- a wiper blade on said holder adapted to contact and wipe the surface of the lens during said movement;
- a nozzle on said holder;
- a conduit connecting the pump outlet with the nozzle to distribute solvent on the lens trailing the wiper blade;
- a fluid motor operatively connected to the holder, said motor when energized moving the holder between the upper park position and the lower position;
- spring means opposing movement of the holder;
- an operator actuated switch for (1) energizing the pump means to deliver solvent through said outlet and (2) for connecting the fluid motor with said source of fluid pressure, said switch means including a housing with a chamber, said chamber having a diaphragm therein dividing the latter into two portions, the first portion being connected to the source, the second portion being connected to the fluid motor;
- valve means actuated by movement of the diaphragm to connect the source with said first portion;
- orifice means in the diaphragm fluidly connecting the portions;
- vent means in said first portion opened and closed by the diaphragm, actuation of the switch moving the diaphragm to (1) open the valve means to connect the first portion with the fluid pressure and (2) close the vent means whereby the pressure in the latter is transmitted through the orifice means to the second portion and to the fluid motor for energizing the latter thereby moving the holder to the lower position, the diaphragm moving to the normal position as the pressure in the portions equalizes to open the vent means thereby deenergizing the fluid motor and disconnecting said fluid motor from said source at the other of said positions whereby solvent is distributed on said lens as the holder travels to the one position and wiped therefrom along with dissolved accumulations as the holder moves to the other position under the biasing of said outlet,
A headlamp washing and wiping system for a motor vehicle headlamp having a spherical lens subject to accumulations, comprising:
- a source of vacuum;
- a reservoir;
- a windshield washer pump, said pump having an inlet and an outler, said inlet fluidly communicating with the reservoir, said pump operative to draw solvent from the reservoir through said inlet and to dispense solvent through said outlet;
- a wiper and washer holder including a wiper blade supported on the vehicle adjacent the headlamp for vertical pivotal movement with respect to the lens in an arc having a radius substantially equal to the spherical radius of the lens such that the blade maintains contact with the lens throughout said movement, said holder moving between an upper park position above the lens and a lower position adjacent the bottom of the lens, said holder having a curvature in a horizontal plane substantially conforming to the shape of the lens such that the blade maintains contact with the lens during said movement of the holder;
- a plurality of nozzles on said holder;
- a conduit connecting the pump outlet with the nozzles to distribute solvent therethrough and onto the lens trailing the wiper blade in its downward movement;
- a vacuum motor operatively connected to the holder, said motor when energized moving the holder between the upper position and the lower position;
- a spring opposing movement of the motor and operative to return the holder to the upper position;
- an operator actuated switch, said switch including electrical contacts for energizing the pump to deliver solvent through said outlet, said switch including valve means for connecting the vacuum motor with said source of vacuum, said switch means having a housing with an internal chamber, said chamber having a diaphragm positioned therein dividing the chamber into two portions, the first portion being connected to the source, the second portion being connected to the vacuum motor;
- a valve in the switch opened by movement of the diaphragm to connect the source with the first portion;
- orifice means in the diaphragm fluidly connecting the portions;
- vent means in said first portion open and closed by the diaphragm, actuation of the switch (1) moving the diaphragm to close the contacts, (2) opening the valve to connect the first portion with vacuum and (3) closing the vent means, whereby the vacuum in the first portion is transmitted through the orifice means to the second chamber and to the motor for energizing the latter to initiate downward movement of the holder and to distribute solvent on said lens as the holder travels to the lower position, the diaphragm moving to the normal position as the pressure in the portions equalizes to open the vent means to thereby pressurize and deenergize the motor whereby the accumulations are wiped from the lens as the holder returns to the upper position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.