Windshield wiper system

In a windshield wiper system for a vehicle, the wiper system having a first electric motor, a second electric motor, a fluid reservoir, and a pump;

• said first electric motor being operable to rotate a first drive shaft that is adapted to support a first wiper blade and said second electric motor being operable to rotate a second drive shaft that is adapted to support a second wiper blade, wherein said first motor and said first drive shaft are spaced from said second motor and second drive shaft by an intervening space;
• and
• said pump being coupled to said reservoir to pump windshield wiper fluid from said reservoir;
• characterized in that said motors, fluid reservoir, and pump are connected together as a single assembly, wherein said assembly includes one or more mounting members that support said motors, fluid reservoir, and pump, and wherein said fluid reservoir is supported at a first end by said first motor and is supported at said second end by said second motor, with said reservoir being constrained in said intervening space between said motors;
• wherein said fluid reservoir includes first and second spaced recesses and wherein said first and second motors have housings that extend into said first and second recesses, respectively;
• and
• wherein said fluid reservoir comprises a molded housing and wherein said first and second recesses are defined by respective first and second sets of fingers that extend from said molded housing.

In a windshield wiper system for a vehicle, the wiper system having a first electric motor, a second electric motor, a fluid reservoir, and a pump;

• said first electric motor being operable to rotate a first drive shaft that is adapted to support a first wiper blade and said second electric motor being operable to rotate a second drive shaft that is adapted to support a second wiper blade, wherein said fist motor and said first drive shaft are spaced from said second motor and second drive shaft by an intervening space;
• and
• said pump being coupled to said reservoir to pump windshield wiper fluid from said reservoir;
• characterized in that said motors, fluid reservoir, and pump are connected together as a single assembly, wherein said assembly includes one or more mounting members that support said motors, fluid reservoir, and pump, and wherein said fluid reservoir includes first and second unitary portions that comprise housings for said first and second motors, respectively.

In a windshield wiper system for a vehicle, the wiper system having a fist electric motor, a second electric motor, a fluid reservoir, and a pump;

• said first electric motor being operable to rotate a first drive shaft that is adapted to support a first wiper blade and said second electric motor being operable to rotate a second drive shaft that is adapted to support a second wiper blade, wherein said first motor and said first drive shaft are spaced from said second motor and second drive shaft by an intervening space;
• and
• said pump being coupled to said reservoir to pump windshield wiper fluid from said reservoir;
• characterized in that said motors, fluid reservoir, and pump are connected together as a single assembly, wherein said assembly includes one or more mounting members that support said motors, fluid reservoir, and pump, and wherein said fluid reservoir includes first and second unitary portions that comprise housings for said first and second motors, respectively;
• and
• wherein said first and second motors each include a metal housing thermally coupled to the interior of said fluid reservoir, whereby fluid within said reservoir acts as a heat sink to thereby remove heat from said motors.

In a windshield wiper system for a vehicle, the wiper system having a first electric motor, a second electric motor, a fluid reservoir, and a pump;

• said first electric motor being operable to rotate a first drive shaft that is adapted to support a first wiper blade and said second electric motor being operable to rotate a second drive shaft that is adapted to support a second wiper blade, wherein said first motor and said first drive shaft are spaced from said second motor and second drive shaft by an intervening space;
• and
• said pump being coupled to said reservoir to pump windshield wiper fluid from said reservoir;
• characterized in that said motors, fluid reservoir, and pump are connected together as a single assembly, wherein said assembly includes one or more mounting members that support said motors, fluid reservoir, and pump, with said fluid reservoir being attached to said one or more mounting members and wherein said fluid reservoir is located in said intervening space with said motors being supported thereof.

In a windshield wiper system for a vehicle, the wiper system having a first electric motor, a second electric motor, a control circuit, a fluid reservoir, and a pump;

• said first electric motor being operable to rotate a first drive shaft that is adapted to support a first wiper blade and said second electric motor being operable to rotate a second drive shaft that is adapted to support a second wiper blade, wherein said first motor and said first drive shaft are spaced from said second motor and second drive shaft by an intervening space;
• and
• said pump being coupled to said reservoir to pump windshield wiper fluid from said reservoir;
• characterized in that said motors, fluid reservoir, and pump are connected together as a single assembly, wherein said assembly includes one or more mounting members that support said motors, fluid reservoir, and pump, wherein said fluid reservoir includes at least one thermally conductive member that is thermally coupled to the interior of said fluid reservoir, and wherein said control circuit includes one or more power devices thermally coupled to said thermally conductive member, whereby fluid within said reservoir acts as a heat sink to thereby remove heat from said one or more power devices via said thermally conductive member.

In a windshield wiper system for a vehicle, the wiper system having a first electric motor, a second electric motor, a fluid reservoir, and a pump;

• said first electric motor being operable to rotate a first drive shaft that is adapted to support a first wiper blade and said second electric motor being operable to rotate a second drive shaft that is adapted to support a second wiper blade, wherein said fist motor and said first drive shaft are spaced from said second motor an second drive shaft by an intervening space;
• and
• said pump being coupled to said reservoir to pump windshield wiper fluid from said reservoir;
• characterized in that said motors, fluid reservoir, and pump are connected together as a single assembly, wherein said assembly includes one or more mounting members that support said motors, fluid reservoir, and pump, and wherein said fluid reservoir includes a metal contact within a lower portion of the interior of said reservoir, said contact being electrically grounded whereby windshield washer fluid within said reservoir is electrically grounded to thereby reduce electromagnetic interference radiated by said motors.

In a windshield wiper system having a first motor, a second motor, and a control circuit having first and second outputs connected to said first and second motors, respectively,

• said first and second motors each including an output shaft for providing rotation to an associated wiper blade, and said control circuit being operable measure the current used by said motors,
• characterized in that said control circuit is operable to determine an environmental condition of the windshield in accordance with the measure current and is operable to change at least one of its outputs based upon said determined environmental condition;
• wherein said control circuit is operable to determine the environment condition using the measured current and at least one other measured parameter;
• and
• wherein said other measured parameter is outside air temperature.