System and method for cleaning or de-icing a windshield

• US 20050086758A1
• Filed: 05/14/2002
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: M-Heat Investors, LLC
• Original Assignee: M-Heat Investors, LLC
• Inventors: Ivanov, Vychislay, Rogozinski, Joseph, Arkashevski, Uri
• Application Number:
  US10/477,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20050086758A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/250.20
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/32 characterised by constructional features of wiper blade arms or blades
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3402 with means for obtaining particular wiping patterns by varying the effective length of the angularly oscillating arm B60S1/365
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3415 with means for supplying cleaning fluid to windscreen cleaners, e.g. washers arrangement of nozzles B60S1/52
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/365 the effective length being automatically varied during angular oscillation of the arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3862 Transport of liquid there through
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/40 Connections between blades and arms
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/485 including control systems responsive to external conditions, e.g. by detection of moisture, dirt or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/488 electrically
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/522 moving liquid spreading means, e.g. arranged in wiper arms
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/524 arranged in wiper blades
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/3836 characterised by cross-sectional shape

Abstract

A windshield washing system and method including a windshield wiper and sprayer assembly (110). The windshield wiper and sprayer assembly (110) includes a windshield wiper assembly (114), a windshield wiper driver assembly operative to move the windshield wiper assembly (114) in rotational and linear motion along a vehicle windshield, a windshield sprayer assembly (116) mounted on the windshield wiper assembly (114), the windshield sprayer assembly (116) includes at least one sprayer. The sprayer includes a sprayer housing (136) and a sprayer housing closure (138) arranged for selectable positioning relative to the sprayer housing (136) and to assume a first position permitting spraying and a second position not permitting spraying and a windshield sprayer assembly positioning assembly operative in response to the linear motion of the windshield wiper assembly (114) for selectably positioning the sprayer housing closure (138) relative to the sprayer housing in either of the first and second positions in accordance with the rotational position of the windshield wiper assembly (114).

Claims

1. A windshield washing system comprising:

a windshield wiper and sprayer assembly comprising;

a windshield wiper assembly;

a windshield wiper driver assembly operative to move said windshield wiper assembly in rotational and linear motion along a vehicle windshield;

a windshield sprayer assembly mounted on said windshield wiper assembly, said windshield sprayer assembly comprising at least one sprayer comprising;

a sprayer housing; and

a sprayer housing closure arranged for selectable positioning relative to said sprayer housing and to assume a first-position permitting spraying and a second position not permitting spraying; and

a windshield sprayer assembly positioning assembly operative in response to said linear motion of said windshield wiper assembly for selectably positioning said sprayer housing closure relative to said sprayer housing in either of said first and second positions in accordance with the rotational position of the windshield wiper assembly.

2-28. -28. (canceled)

29. A windshield sprayer assembly comprising:

at least one sprayer comprising;

a sprayer housing; and

a sprayer housing closure arranged for selectable positioning relative to said sprayer housing and to assume a first position permitting spraying and a second position not permitting spraying; and

a heater heating said sprayer housing.

30-33. -33. (canceled)

34. A windshield washing system comprising:

a windshield wiper and sprayer assembly comprising;

a windshield wiper assembly;

a windshield wiper driver assembly operative to move said windshield wiper assembly in rotational motion along a vehicle windshield;

a windshield sprayer assembly mounted on said windshield wiper assembly, said windshield sprayer assembly comprising at least one sprayer comprising;

a sprayer housing; and

a sprayer housing closure arranged for selectable positioning relative to said sprayer housing and to assume a first position permitting spraying and a second position not permitting spraying; and

a windshield sprayer assembly positioning assembly operative in response to said rotational motion of said windshield wiper assembly for selectably positioning said sprayer housing closure relative to said sprayer housing in either of said first and second positions in accordance with the rotational position of the windshield wiper assembly.

35-51. -51. (canceled)

52. A liquid heating assembly useful with a windshield wiper and sprayer assembly, said liquid heating assembly comprising:

a housing defining a liquid heating chamber; and

a liquid heating volume defining subassembly disposed in said liquid heating chamber and including a base portion and a generally cylindrical wall portion which is provided with a plurality of liquid inlet apertures at various heights therealong.

53-61. -61. (canceled)

62. A liquid heating assembly useful with a windshield wiper and sprayer assembly, said liquid heating assembly comprising:

a housing defining a liquid heating chamber;

a liquid heating volume defining subassembly disposed in said liquid heating chamber and including a base portion and a generally cylindrical wall portion which is provided with at least one liquid inlet aperture; and

a labyrinthine heating unit receiving heated liquid from said liquid heating volume and providing further heated liquid to an outlet.

63-65. -65. (canceled)

66. A liquid heating assembly useful with a windshield wiper and sprayer assembly, said liquid heating assembly comprising:

a housing defining a liquid heating chamber;

a liquid heating volume defining subassembly disposed in said liquid heating chamber and including a base portion and a generally cylindrical wall portion which is provided with at least one liquid inlet aperture; and

a pump, which is not part of the original equipment in a vehicle, which pressurizes liquid received via a conduit from a liquid reservoir, which is part of the original equipment of the vehicle.

67-70. -70. (canceled)

71. A liquid heating assembly useful with a windshield wiper and sprayer assembly, said liquid heating assembly comprising:

a housing defining a liquid heating chamber;

a liquid heating volume defining subassembly disposed in said liquid heating chamber and including a base portion and a generally cylindrical wall portion which is provided with at least one liquid inlet aperture; and

a temperature sensor located in a wall of said liquid heating chamber.

72-113. -113. (canceled)

114. A heated liquid circulation system comprising:

a liquid heating assembly; and

a heated liquid circulation assembly for supplying heated liquid from said liquid heating assembly for circulation in thermal heat exchange engagement with at least one of a windshield wiper, a windshield sprayer and a liquid supply conduit for supplying liquid to said windshield sprayer.

115. A heated liquid wiper and sprayer assembly comprising:

a liquid heating assembly;

at least one sprayer;

a heated liquid supply assembly including at least one heated liquid supply conduit for supplying heated liquid from said liquid heating assembly to said at least one sprayer for spraying thereof; and

a heated liquid circulation assembly for supplying heated liquid from said liquid heating assembly for circulation in thermal heat exchange engagement with at least one of a windshield wiper, said at least one sprayer and to said at least one heated liquid supply conduit for heating thereof.

116-153. -153. (canceled)

154. A windshield sprayer controlling system comprising:

a windshield wiper assembly comprising;

a windshield wiper support arm; and

a windshield wiper;

a windshield wiper driver assembly operative to move said windshield wiper assembly in rotational motion along a vehicle windshield; and

at least one windshield sprayer mounted on said windshield wiper assembly, said support arm controlling said at least one windshield sprayer in accordance with the direction of movement of said wiper assembly relative to said windshield.

155-163. -163. (canceled)

164. A heated liquid spray system for vehicles comprising:

a windshield washing subsystem comprising;

a windshield wiper and sprayer assembly comprising;

a windshield wiper assembly;

a windshield wiper driver assembly operative to move said windshield wiper assembly in rotational and linear motion along a vehicle windshield;

a windshield sprayer assembly mounted on said windshield wiper assembly, said windshield sprayer assembly comprising at least one sprayer comprising;

a sprayer housing; and

a sprayer housing closure arranged for selectable positioning relative to said sprayer housing and to assume a first position permitting spraying and a second position not permitting spraying; and

a windshield sprayer assembly positioning assembly operative in response to said linear motion of said windshield wiper assembly for selectably positioning said housing closure relative to said housing in either of said first and second positions in accordance with the rotational position of the windshield wiper assembly; and

a liquid heating assembly subsystem comprising;

a housing defining a liquid heating chamber; and

a liquid heating volume defining subassembly disposed in said liquid heating chamber and including a base portion and a generally cylindrical wall portion which is provided with at least one liquid inlet aperture.

165. A heated liquid spray system for vehicles comprising:

a windshield washing subsystem comprising;

a windshield wiper and sprayer assembly comprising;

a windshield wiper assembly;

a windshield wiper driver assembly operative to move said windshield wiper assembly in at least rotational motion along a vehicle windshield;

a windshield sprayer assembly mounted on said windshield wiper assembly, said windshield sprayer assembly comprising at least one sprayer comprising;

a sprayer housing; and

a sprayer housing closure arranged for selectable positioning relative to said sprayer housing and to assume a first position permitting spraying and a second position not permitting spraying; and

a windshield sprayer assembly positioning assembly operative in response to said motion of said windshield wiper assembly for selectably positioning said housing closure relative to said housing in either of said first and second positions in accordance with the rotational position of the windshield wiper assembly; and

a liquid heating assembly subsystem comprising;

a housing defining a liquid heating chamber; and

a liquid heating volume defining subassembly disposed in said liquid heating chamber and including a base portion and a generally cylindrical wall portion which is provided with at least one liquid inlet aperture.

166. A heated liquid spray system for vehicles comprising:

a windshield washing subsystem comprising;

a windshield wiper and sprayer assembly comprising;

a windshield wiper assembly;

a windshield wiper driver assembly operative to move said windshield wiper assembly in at least rotational motion along a vehicle windshield;

a windshield sprayer assembly mounted on said windshield wiper assembly, said windshield sprayer assembly comprising at least one sprayer comprising;

a sprayer housing; and

a sprayer housing closure arranged for selectable positioning relative to said sprayer housing and to assume a first position permitting spraying and a second position not permitting spraying; and

a windshield sprayer assembly positioning assembly operative in response to said motion of said windshield wiper assembly for selectably positioning said housing closure relative to said housing in either of said first and second positions in accordance with the rotational position of the windshield wiper assembly; and

a liquid heating assembly subsystem comprising;

a housing defining a liquid heating chamber;

a liquid heating volume defining subassembly disposed in said liquid heating chamber; and

a labyrinthine heating unit receiving heated liquid from said liquid heating volume and providing further heated liquid to an outlet.

167. (canceled)

168. A method for windshield washing comprising:

providing a windshield wiper assembly having mounted thereon a windshield sprayer assembly including at least one sprayer including a sprayer housing and a sprayer housing closure movable relative to said sprayer housing, said sprayer housing closure providing a first position permitting spraying and a second position not permitting spraying;

moving said windshield wiper assembly in rotational and linear motion along a vehicle windshield; and

selectably positioning said sprayer housing closure relative to said sprayer housing in either of said first and second positions in response to said linear motion of said windshield wiper assembly in accordance with the rotational position of the windshield wiper assembly.

169-195. -195. (canceled)

196. A method for windshield spraying comprising:

providing at least one sprayer including a sprayer housing and a sprayer housing closure arranged for selectable positioning relative to said sprayer housing and for assuming a first position permitting spraying and a second position not permitting spraying; and

heating said sprayer housing.

197-200. -200. (canceled)

201. A method for windshield washing comprising:

providing a windshield wiper assembly having mounted thereon a windshield sprayer assembly including at least one sprayer including a sprayer housing and a sprayer housing closure relative to said sprayer housing, said sprayer housing closure having a first position permitting spraying and a second position not permitting spraying;

moving said windshield wiper assembly in rotational motion along a vehicle windshield; and

selectably positioning said sprayer housing closure relative to said sprayer housing in either of said first and second positions in accordance with the rotational position of said windshield wiper assembly.

202-218. -218. (canceled)

219. A method for heating liquid for use with a windshield wiper and sprayer assembly comprising:

providing a housing defining a liquid heating chamber; and

disposing a liquid heating volume defining subassembly, including a base portion and a generally cylindrical wall portion, with a plurality of liquid inlet apertures at various heights along said wall portion, in said liquid heating chamber.

220-227. -227. (canceled)

228. A method for heating liquid for use with a windshield wiper and sprayer assembly comprising:

providing a housing defining a liquid heating chamber;

disposing a liquid heating volume defining subassembly, including a base portion and a generally cylindrical wall portion, including at least one liquid inlet aperture, in said liquid heating chamber;

receiving heated liquid from said liquid heating volume into a labyrinthine heating unit;

further heating said heated liquid; and

providing said further heated liquid from said labyrinthine heating unit to an outlet.

229-231. -231. (canceled)

232. A method for heating liquid useful with a windshield wiper and sprayer assembly:

providing a housing defining a liquid heating chamber;

disposing a liquid heating volume defining subassembly, including a base portion and a generally cylindrical wall portion, including at least one liquid inlet aperture, in said liquid heating chamber;

receiving liquid via a conduit from a liquid reservoir, which is part of the original equipment of a vehicle; and

pressurizing said liquid with a pump, which is not part of the original equipment in said vehicle.

233-235. -235. (canceled)

236. A method for heating liquid for use with a windshield wiper and sprayer assembly comprising:

providing a housing defining a liquid heating chamber;

disposing a liquid heating volume defining subassembly, including a base portion and a generally cylindrical wall portion, including at least one liquid inlet aperture, in said liquid heating chamber;

locating a temperature sensor in a wall of said liquid heating chamber; and

sensing temperature of said liquid via said temperature sensor.

237-319. -319. (canceled)