Apparatus for cleaning headlight lens and similar surfaces

• US 5,083,339 A
• Filed: 11/10/1989
• Issued: 01/28/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprague Aristo-Aire, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sprague Aristo-Aire, Inc.
• Inventors: Bristow, Stephen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hornsby, Harvey C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US07/430,664
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 15/250 A, 15/250.01, 15/250.02, 15/250.04, 15/250.30, 239/284.1, 239/284.2, 239/322, 239/337, 239/329, 417/396, 417/403
• US Class Current: 15/250.002
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/10 pneumatically driven
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/48 Liquid supply therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/50 Arrangement of reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/522 moving liquid spreading means, e.g. arranged in wiper arms
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/544 moving gas spreading means, e.g. arranged in wiper arms
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/60 for signalling devices, e.g. reflectors

Abstract

A nozzle arm is associated with an air-operated motor arranged to move the nozzle arm in a forward and return cycle across a headlight. The motor is a reversing air motor that includes a mixing chamber for pressured air and a cleaning fluid. The mixing chamber produces a mist under pressure that cleans the headlight in an efficient manner in one cycle of the arm. The motor is controlled in its movement by a cycling valve and an air operated relay valve. The nozzles on the nozzle arm are thin openings that form a pressured fan-like cleaning pattern.

Claims

1. Cleaning apparatus for a headlight surface of vehicles having a pressured air supply on board and a reservoir of cleaning liquid, said apparatus comprising:

a motor housing,

mounting means on said housing for mounting it on a vehicle adjacent the headlight surface,

a cylinder portion in said housing in which a piston is driven in forward and reverse movements,

a shaft supported on said housing having opposite end portions,

one end portion of said shaft projecting laterally from said housing whereby to be disposed forwardly of the headlight surface and the other end portion having a driving connection with said piston whereby the shaft is driven in reciprocating rotation by forward and reverse movements of said piston,

an arm member mounted on said one end portion of said shaft at right angles thereto and in spaced parallel relation with said housing forwardly of the headlight surface for sweeping movement across the headlight surface in close proximity thereto but in spaced relation,

outlet nozzles on said arm member directed toward the headlight surface,

mixing means in said housing operably associated with said cylinder and piston whereby to combine the pressured air supply on the vehicle and cleaning liquid from the reservoir into a pressured mist,

and conveying means in said motor housing, shaft, and arm member for directing said pressured mist to said nozzles for cleaning the headlight surface as said arm member sweeps thereacross.

2. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveying means includes ducts extending through said shaft and said arm member establishing communication between said mixing means and said nozzles.

3. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveying means comprises a longitudinal duct in said arm member, a plurality of lateral ports leading from said duct toward the headlight surface and terminating in said outlet nozzles, said outlet nozzles comprising thin longitudinal openings producing a thin pattern of spray of said mist against the headlight, said lateral ports joining with said thin longitudinal openings in a concaved wall portion whereby pressured mist flowing from said ports to said openings is shaped into a criss-cross, fan-like pattern.

4. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said piston is operated in its forward and reverse movement by the pressured air supply on the vehicle.

5. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said piston has a rod extension, and gear means connecting said rod extension to said other end of said shaft.

6. The cleaning apparatus of claim 5 wherein said gear means includes a rack and pinion.

7. Cleaning apparatus for a headlight surface for vehicles having a pressured air supply on board and a reservoir of cleaning liquid, said apparatus comprising:

an arm member including outlet nozzles thereon,

support means operably connected to said arm member for supporting said arm member on a vehicle in front of a headlight surface with said nozzles in close proximity but in spaced relation therefrom,

a reversing motor in said support means operated by the pressured air supply on the vehicle in forward and return movements,

said reversing motor comprising a piston operable in forward and return movements to drive said arm member,

cycling means controlling air supply to said motor in its reversing functions,

and a projection on said piston for tripping said cycling means to initiate said return movement,

mixing means for connection to the pressured air supply on the vehicle and with the reservoir of cleaning liquid through said support means and for converting pressured air and cleaning liquid into a pressured mist,

and conveying means in said support means and arm member for directing said pressured mist through said nozzles against the headlight surface.

8. The cleaning apparatus of claim 7 including rack and pinion means associated with said piston for driving said arm member.