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US 9,731,688 B2Granted
Passive wiper system
AssigneeWaymo LLC
InventorsGraham Doorley, Paul Thomas Hansen Karplus, Peter Avram
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wiper system for clearing a surface of a dome includes a plurality of wiper blades that are configured to move around a circumference of the dome. Rotation of the wiper blades in a first direction around the circumference of the dome deploys the wiper blades into an upright position and rotation of the wiper blades in a second direction opposite the first direction stows the wiper blades into a collapsed position.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a dome having a continuous surface;
- a wiper blade assembly including a wiper blade and a pivoting connector having a post portion, the wiper blade assembly being configured to remove optical deterrents on the continuous surface and move around a circumference of the continuous surface such that rotation of the wiper blade assembly in a first direction around the circumference of the continuous surface deploys the wiper blade into an actuated position and rotation of the wiper blade assembly in a second direction opposite the first direction stows the wiper blade into a collapsed position;
- a bearing ring extending around the circumference of the continuous surface and fixed relative to the continuous surface, and the bearing ring includes an attached ramp configured to pivot from a first position to a second position as the post portion moves along the ramp;
- and
- a top plate configured to rotate about the bearing ring, and wherein the wiper blade assembly being coupled to the top plate via a mount, the post portion is configured to move along a top surface of the ramp when the top plate rotates in the first direction, and the post portion is configured to move along a bottom surface of the ramp when the top plate rotates in the second direction.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.