Module for a motor vehicle

• US 5,946,763 A
• Filed: 09/23/1997
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Egner-Walter, Bruno, Schmid, Eckhardt
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALDAG, ANDREW J
• Application Number:
  US08/875,027
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 15/250.3, 15/250.01, 15/250.02, 15/250.31, 15/250.29, 15/250.04, 239/284.1, 239/589.1, 239/303, 239/304, 239/355, 296/192, 296/208, 296/96.15, 296/96.17
• US Class Current: 15/250.02
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 3/0658 Filter elements specially adapted for their arrangement in vehicles B60H3/0608 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/70 specially adapted for windows or windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/04 Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0416 including other vehicle fittings
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0822 characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/20 by cable drives; by flexible shafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3404 the wiper blades being moved substantially parallel with themselves
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/481 the operation of at least part of the liquid supply being controlled by electric means electrical washing liquid warming-up means B60S1/488
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/50 Arrangement of reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/52 Arrangement of nozzles; Liquid spreading meansnozzles per se B05B

Abstract

The invention pertains to a module for a motor vehicle which comprises a windshield wiper system (7) and a windshield washer system, wherein a receptacle (6) that is predominantly realized in the form of a fluid container is shaped such that it surrounds the windshield wiper system (7) at least approximately complimentarily and simultaneously serves as a cover for the so-called radiator tank of the motor vehicle body, and wherein said receptacle is provided with an air passage (17) that leads to the passenger compartment. The invention also aims to develop a module of this type in such a way that it fulfills additional functions and can be delivered to the motor vehicle manufacturer in the form of a complete module. According to the invention, a windshield wiper system (7) that is mounted on a carrier and the receptacle (6) can be connected into a module, wherein the receptacle (6) comprises several independent tanks (8,9,10) for different fluids which are respectively assigned with a controllable pump (14,15). In addition, the receptacle (6) comprises a rainwater inlet (16) for automatically filling the tank (8) for the washing fluid as well as an exchangeable fresh air filter (61).

Claims

1. Module for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a windshield wiper system attached to a windshield washer system, wherein said windshield washer system includes a fluid container shaped such that it partially covers the windshield wiper system,

and wherein said windshield washer system is provided with an air passage adapted to lead to a passenger compartment of said motor vehicle,

and wherein the windshield wiper system is mounted on a carrier,

and wherein the fluid container includes at least two independent tanks that can be separately filled,

and wherein said at least two independent tanks are adapted to hold windshield washing fluid and antifreeze fluid respectively,

a pump for the antifreeze pump having an inlet side and an outlet side, wherein said inlet side is in fluid communication with said antifreeze fluid holding tank and said outlet of said pump is in fluid communication with said windshield washing fluid holding tank,

and wherein a filter neck of the windshield washing fluid holding tank is equipped with a filling level limiter that maintains a sufficiently large tank volume free for pumping antifreeze fluid into said windshield washing fluid holding tank,

and wherein a fresh air filter resides in said air passage of said windshield washer system.

2. Module according to claim 1, wherein the communication between said outlet of said pump for the antifreeze and said windshield washing fluid holding tank is accomplished by way of a fluid line that is routed through the windshield washing fluid tank bottom, wherein a return valve that prevents an overflow of the washing fluid into the antifreeze fluid holding tank is arranged in said fluid line.

3. Module according to claim 1, wherein an electronic control element is connected to the output of a sensor for measuring the density of the washing fluid, the output of a sensor for measuring the temperature of the washing fluid, and the output of a sensor for measuring the outside temperature, and wherein the control element triggers the pump for the antifreeze and activates said pump if the evaluation of the signals delivered by the sensors indicates that the washing fluid may freeze.

4. Module according to claim 1, wherein the fluid container further includes a tank for a strong cleaning agent, wherein the strong cleaning agent tank is in communication with by a corresponding pump said corresponding pump, is coupled into a washing fluid line that leads to a spraying nozzle.

5. Module according to claim 4, wherein said windshield washing fluid holding tank further includes an outlet that is coupled to said washing fluid line via a hose line section.

6. Module according to claim 1, wherein the pump for the antifreeze can be activated upon demand by the driver of the motor vehicle or by a control element.

7. Module according to claim 1, wherein the windshield washing fluid holding tank is equipped with a rainwater inlet.

8. Module according to claim 7, wherein the rainwater inlet is connected to the filler neck of the windshield washing fluid holding tank.

9. Module according to claim 1, wherein said windshield wiper system includes a linear wiper system including a drive motor, wherein the windshield of the motor vehicle is accommodated in a frame that surrounds the edges of the windshield and comprises integrated guide rails for a wiper that linearly moves over the windshield, and wherein the drive motor and a corresponding gear for driving the wiper are arranged on said frame.

10. Module according to claim 9, further including spraying nozzles integrally formed on the frame of the linear wiper system or on a diaphragm of the frame.

11. Module according to claim 9, wherein the frame of the linear wiper system is directly connected to the windshield.

12. Module according to claim 9, wherein the frame is adhered to the windshield.

13. Module according to claim 9, wherein the windshield carries the frame of the linear wiper system and is fastened to the motor vehicle body by means of a binder.

14. Module according to claim 9, wherein the frame carries the windshield and is connected to the motor vehicle body by means of a screw connection or a binder.

15. Module according to claim 1, wherein the fresh air filter includes a fine filter and a subsequently arranged activated carbon filter.

16. Module according to claim 1, further including an engine compartment light and a switch for the engine compartment light that is activated by opening or closing the hood.