Headlamp cleaning assembly
First Claim
1. A headlamp cleaning assembly for cleaning vehicle headlamps comprising:
- first and second nozzles for jetting an air/liquid mixture against a headlamp surface; and
regulator means for mixing air and liquid and for sequentially supplying the resultant air/liquid mixture to said first nozzle for a first period of time and then to said second nozzle for a second period of time during one complete cycle; and
control means for actuating said regulator means to initiate each of said cycles, said regulator means including air/liquid mixing means movable between a start position and a liquid charged position, energy transfer means for moving said mixing means from said start position to said liquid charged position in response to actuation of said control means, and air supply means for supplying air to said air/liquid mixing means for the mixture thereof with liquid in response to said mixing means reaching said charged position and for moving said mixing means from said charged position to said start position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A headlamp cleaning assembly of the type for cleaning vehicle headlamps and including first and second nozzles for jetting an air/liquid mixture against a headlight surface. A regulator means is included for mixing air and liquid and for sequentially supplying the resultant air/liquid mixture to the first nozzle for a first period of time and then to the second nozzle for a second period of time to complete one cycle. The regulator includes a piston slidably disposed in a cavity to define an air/liquid mixing chamber which is opposed by a liquid charging chamber. The piston also defines an air actuation chamber which, when supplied air, moves the piston from a start position to a charged position to charge by filling the charging chamber with liquid. A stem is connected to and extends upwardly from the piston and is slidably disposed in a stem chamber for actuating an air valve which, in turn, allows pressurized air to flow into the stem chamber. A selector valve is in fluid communication with the stem chamber for selectively controlling the flow of the air/liquid mixture between the first and second nozzles. A porting valve is in fluid communication with the stem chamber through an accumulator chamber and is responsive to air pressure in the stem chamber for moving to an open position to allow air pressure to flow to the mixing chamber to drive the piston against the liquid charged chamber so that liquid will flow through a check valve and a timing and atomizing nozzle into the mixing chamber. Also included is a manually actuated control valve which is actuatable to allow air pressure to flow to the air actuating chamber to initiate a cycle.
35 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A headlamp cleaning assembly for cleaning vehicle headlamps comprising:
- first and second nozzles for jetting an air/liquid mixture against a headlamp surface; and
regulator means for mixing air and liquid and for sequentially supplying the resultant air/liquid mixture to said first nozzle for a first period of time and then to said second nozzle for a second period of time during one complete cycle; and
control means for actuating said regulator means to initiate each of said cycles, said regulator means including air/liquid mixing means movable between a start position and a liquid charged position, energy transfer means for moving said mixing means from said start position to said liquid charged position in response to actuation of said control means, and air supply means for supplying air to said air/liquid mixing means for the mixture thereof with liquid in response to said mixing means reaching said charged position and for moving said mixing means from said charged position to said start position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- first and second nozzles for jetting an air/liquid mixture against a headlamp surface; and
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12. An air/liquid mixing assembly comprising:
- housing means defining a cavity;
piston means slidably disposed in said cavity to define a mixing chamber and a charging chamber;
said piston means being movable between a start position and a liquid charged position;
said piston means having a larger area exposed to said mixing chamber than the area thereof exposed to said charging chamber; and
valving means for only allowing liquid to flow from said charging chamber to said mixing chamber as said piston means moves from said charged position to said start position;
said piston means defining an air actuation chamber within said cavity for receiving pressurized air to move said piston means from said start position to said charged position;
said valving means including timing means for controlling the rate of injecting liquid therethrough and into said mixing chamber as said piston means moves from said charged position to said start position;
air supply means for supplying pressurized air to said mixing chamber;
first fluid passage means for conveying the air/liquid mixture from said mixing chamber;
liquid inlet means in fluid communication with said charging chamber for supplying liquid to said charging chamber during movement of said piston means from said start position to said charged position and for preventing reverse flow of liquid from said charging chamber through said inlet means;
sequencing means for sequentially;
supplying air to said air actuation chamber to move said piston means from said start position to said charged position to fill said charging chamber with liquid, supplying air to said mixing chamber while venting said air actuation chamber to move said piston means from said charged position to said start position while liquid enters said mixing chamber through said timing means and is mixed with air to form the air/liquid mixture which flows out said first fluid passage means;
said valving means including a first one-way check valve and said liquid inlet means including a second one-way check valve;
said housing means defining a stem chamber;
a stem slidably supported in said stem chamber;
said stem being connected to said piston means and extending through said mixing chamber for movement with said piston means between said start and charged positions; and
air valve means disposed in said stem chamber and actuatable by said stem for allowing air to flow therepast and into said stem chamber when said piston means is in said charged position. - View Dependent Claims (13)
- housing means defining a cavity;
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14. An assembly comprising;
- a housing defining a stem chamber, a stem supported in sealing engagement in said stem chamber for sliding movement between first and second positions, an accumulator chamber in fluid communication with said stem chamber, air valve means disposed in said stem chamber and actuatable by said stem in said first position for allowing air to flow therethrough and into said stem chamber and into said accumulator chamber, a timing port in fluid communication with said stem chamber and closed by said stem when said stem is in said first position and open to said stem chamber and said accumulator chamber when said stem is in said second position.
- View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A gas/liquid mixing assembly comprising;
- housing means defining a cavity, a piston slidably disposed in said cavity, said piston having a large area end defining a mixing chamber within said cavity and a small area end defining a charging chamber within said cavity, means for conveying liquid from said charging chamber to said mixing chamber, said piston defining an air actuation chamber within said cavity, and control means for supplying air to said actuation chamber for moving said piston to expand said charging chamber to charge said charging chamber with liquid and for thereafter venting said actuation chamber and supplying air to said mixing chamber for moving said piston into said charging chamber for mixing the liquid with the gas in said mixing chamber.
Specification