Windshied washer apparatus with flow control coordinated with a wiper displacement range
First Claim
1. A wiper-cooperative washing apparatus for washing a glass surface of a vehicle in coordination with a wiper drive mechanism for effecting forward movement and return movement of a wiper blade assembly over a wiper blade travel range, said wiper blade assembly having a wiper blade with a forward edge defined by a direction of said forward movement, said wiper-cooperative washing apparatus comprising:
- a nozzle pipe having nozzles disposed thereon for emitting a washing liquid toward said forward edge of said wiper blade, said nozzle pipe having first and second ends and said nozzle pipe being mountable on said wiper blade assembly;
a washer pump for pumping said washing liquid;
a feed pipe for feeding said washing liquid from said washer pump to said nozzle pipe for emission by said nozzles;
said nozzles including at least a first end nozzle at said first end of said nozzle pipe and a second end nozzle at said second end of said nozzle pipe;
at least one of said first end nozzle and said second end nozzle having a ball valve device for reducing an initial emission rate of said washing liquid by said at least one of said first end nozzle and said second end nozzle in response to a continuous flow of said washing liquid;
a washer switch for initiating a washing operation of said wiper-cooperative washing apparatus; and
control means for controlling said wiper drive mechanism to effect said forward movement and said return movement of said wiper blade assembly a predetermined number of times when said washer switch is operated, and for controlling said washer pump to operate over an emission range of 55% to 75% of said wiper blade travel range during said forward movement of said wiper blade assembly such that said emission of said washing liquid by said first end nozzle and said second end nozzle is limited to said emission range.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In order to provide a wiper-cooperative washing apparatus which adjusts the jetting rate and jetting timing of a washing liquid, thereby preventing waste of the washing liquid, an attachment nozzle pipe 7 for washing a glass surface W of a vehicle is removably attached to a wiper blade 1c, the attachment nozzle pipe 7 has nozzle openings 7d2, 7e2 and 7j from which the washing liquid is jetted toward the forward-wiping side of a blade rubber 1d, when a washer switch 6 is turned on, an arm 1a supporting the wiper blade 1c is swung forward and backward a predetermined number of times, during every forward swing of the arm 1a, a washer pump 2 is kept operating until 55% to 75% of one forward wiping stroke is completed, thereby adjusting the jetting rate of the washing liquid.
148 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A wiper-cooperative washing apparatus for washing a glass surface of a vehicle in coordination with a wiper drive mechanism for effecting forward movement and return movement of a wiper blade assembly over a wiper blade travel range, said wiper blade assembly having a wiper blade with a forward edge defined by a direction of said forward movement, said wiper-cooperative washing apparatus comprising:
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a nozzle pipe having nozzles disposed thereon for emitting a washing liquid toward said forward edge of said wiper blade, said nozzle pipe having first and second ends and said nozzle pipe being mountable on said wiper blade assembly; a washer pump for pumping said washing liquid; a feed pipe for feeding said washing liquid from said washer pump to said nozzle pipe for emission by said nozzles; said nozzles including at least a first end nozzle at said first end of said nozzle pipe and a second end nozzle at said second end of said nozzle pipe; at least one of said first end nozzle and said second end nozzle having a ball valve device for reducing an initial emission rate of said washing liquid by said at least one of said first end nozzle and said second end nozzle in response to a continuous flow of said washing liquid; a washer switch for initiating a washing operation of said wiper-cooperative washing apparatus; and control means for controlling said wiper drive mechanism to effect said forward movement and said return movement of said wiper blade assembly a predetermined number of times when said washer switch is operated, and for controlling said washer pump to operate over an emission range of 55% to 75% of said wiper blade travel range during said forward movement of said wiper blade assembly such that said emission of said washing liquid by said first end nozzle and said second end nozzle is limited to said emission range. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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2. A wiper-cooperative washing apparatus for washing a glass surface of a vehicle in coordination with a wiper drive mechanism for effecting forward movement and return movement of a wiper blade assembly over a wiper blade travel arc range, said wiper blade assembly having a wiper blade with a forward edge defined by a direction of said forward movement, said wiper-cooperative washing apparatus comprising:
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a nozzle pipe having nozzles disposed thereon for emitting a washing liquid toward said forward edge of said wiper blade, said nozzle pipe having first and second ends and said nozzle pipe being mountable on said wiper blade assembly; a washer pump for pumping said washing liquid; a feed pipe for feeding said washing liquid from said washer pump to said nozzle pipe for emission by said nozzles; a washer switch for initiating a washing operation of said wiper-cooperative washing apparatus; and control means for controlling said wiper drive mechanism to effect said forward movement and said return movement of said wiper blade assembly a predetermined number of times when said washer switch is operated, and for controlling said washer pump to operate over an emission range corresponding to a portion of said wiper blade travel arc range from a start position to an angle in a range of 50°
to 70°
during said forward movement of said wiper blade assembly such that said emission of said washing liquid by said nozzles is limited to said emission range.
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3. A wiper-cooperative washing apparatus for washing a glass surface of a vehicle in coordination with a wiper drive mechanism, said wiper-cooperative washing apparatus comprising:
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a wiper blade assembly including a nozzle pipe having a mount member with a wiper blade mounted thereon, said wiper blade assembly being driven by said wiper drive mechanism through a forward movement and a return movement over a wiper blade travel range, said wiper blade having a forward edge defined by a direction of said forward movement; said nozzle pipe having nozzles disposed thereon for emitting a washing liquid toward said forward edge of said wiper blade, said nozzle pipe having first and second ends; a washer pump for pumping said washing liquid; a feed pipe for feeding said washing liquid from said washer pump to said nozzle pipe for emission by said nozzles; said nozzles including at least a first end nozzle at said first end of said nozzle pipe and a second end nozzle at said second end of said nozzle pipe; at least one of said first end nozzle and said second end nozzle having a ball valve device for reducing an initial emission rate of said washing liquid by said at least one of said first end nozzle and said second end nozzle in response to a flow of said washing liquid; a washer switch for initiating a washing operation of said wiper-cooperative washing apparatus; and control means for controlling said wiper drive mechanism to effect said forward movement and said return movement of said wiper blade assembly a predetermined number of times when said washer switch is operated, and for controlling said washer pump to operate over an emission range of 55% to 75% of said wiper blade travel range during said forward movement of said wiper blade assembly such that said emission of said washing liquid by said first end nozzle and said second end nozzle is limited to said emission range. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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4. A wiper-cooperative washing apparatus for washing a glass surface of a vehicle in coordination with a wiper drive mechanism, said wiper-cooperative washing apparatus comprising:
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a wiper blade assembly including a nozzle pipe having a mount member with a wiper blade mounted thereon, said wiper blade assembly being driven by said wiper drive mechanism through a forward movement and a return movement over a wiper blade travel arc range, said wiper blade having a forward edge defined by a direction of said forward movement; said nozzle pipe having nozzles disposed thereon for emitting a washing liquid toward said forward edge of said wiper blade, said nozzle pipe having first and second ends; a washer pump for pumping said washing liquid; a feed pipe for feeding said washing liquid from said washer pump to said nozzle pipe for emission by said nozzles; said nozzles including at least a first end nozzle at said first end of said nozzle pipe and a second end nozzle at said second end of said nozzle pipe; at least one of said first end nozzle and said second end nozzle having a ball valve device for reducing an initial emission rate of said washing liquid by said at least one of said first end nozzle and said second end nozzle in response to a continuous flow of said washing liquid; a washer switch for initiating a washing operation of said wiper-cooperative washing apparatus; and control means for controlling said wiper drive mechanism to effect said forward movement and said return movement of said wiper blade assembly a predetermined number of times when said washer switch is operated, and for controlling said washer pump to operate over an emission range corresponding to a portion of said wiper blade travel arc range from a start position to an angle in a range of 50°
to 70°
during said forward movement of said wiper blade assembly such that said emission of said washing liquid by said first end nozzle and said second end nozzle is limited to said emission range.
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24. A wiper-cooperative washing apparatus for washing a glass surface of a vehicle in coordination with a wiper drive mechanism for effecting forward movement and return movement of a wiper blade assembly over a wiper blade travel arc range, said wiper blade assembly having a wiper blade with a forward edge defined by a direction of said forward movement, said wiper-cooperative washing apparatus comprising:
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a nozzle pipe having nozzles disposed thereon for emitting a washing liquid toward said forward edge of said wiper blade, said nozzle pipe having first and second ends and said nozzle pipe being mountable on said wiper blade assembly; a washer pump for pumping said washing liquid; a feed pipe for feeding said washing liquid from said washer pump to said nozzle pipe for emission by said nozzles; a washer switch for initiating a washing operation of said wiper-cooperative washing apparatus; control means for controlling said wiper drive mechanism to effect said forward movement and said return movement of said wiper blade assembly a predetermined number of times when said washer switch is operated, and for controlling said washer pump to operate over an emission range corresponding to a portion of said wiper blade travel arc range from a start position to an angle in a range of 50°
to 70°
during said forward movement of said wiper blade assembly such that said emission of said washing liquid by said nozzles is limited to said emission range;said washer pump having a washer motor; said wiper drive mechanism including a wiper motor for moving said wiper blade assembly, said wiper motor having a wiper motor detector output for indicating an operation state of said wiper motor; and said control means including; a washer control circuit for outputting a start washer motor signal to said washer motor to initiate running of said washer motor upon reception of an ON signal from said washer switch; a washer motor detection polarity changeover circuit for permitting manual selection of a control polarity of said start washer motor signal that corresponds to that of said washer motor and for outputting a washer motor ON signal in response to detection of said start washer motor signal; a wiper motor detection polarity changeover circuit for permitting manual selection of a control polarity of said wiper motor detector output and for outputting a wiper motor state detection signal for indicating said operation state of said wiper motor in response to said wiper motor detector output to indicate said operation state of said wiper motor; a timer circuit for counting a previously selected period of time, corresponding to that of said emission range in response to said washer motor ON signal indicating said washer motor is running and said wiper motor state detection signal indicating said wiper motor is stopped and outputting a washer motor relay ON signal when said counting of said previously selected period of time is completed; a relay control circuit for outputting a washer motor stop signal to said washer control circuit upon reception of said relay ON signal from said timer setting time selection circuit; and said washer motor control circuit terminating said washer motor start signal in response to reception of said washer motor stop signal from said relay control circuit to stop said washer motor.
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Specification