Headlamp cleaning device

• US 20030066909A1
• Filed: 08/30/2002
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kautex Textron GmbH & Company KG (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Kautex Textron GmbH & Company KG (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Jenkins, Martyn
• Granted Patent: US 6,854,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/284.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/528 the spreading means being moved between a rest position and a working position B60S1/526 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/603 the operation of at least a part of the cleaning means being controlled by electric means

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for cleaning headlamps on motor vehicles by means of cleaning fluid to be discharged through at least one spray nozzle (7), wherein the spray nozzle (7) in the rest position is arranged concealed or recessed in the bumper (2) or the bodywork of the motor vehicle and can be positioned by means of an actuator in a cleaning position. The cleaning device (1) according to the invention is distinguished in that the spray nozzle is arranged on a mounting which is secured pivotably to the bodywork and which in the rest position is pivoted into the bodywork and which can be pivoted out into the cleaning position by the actuator.

Claims

1. A device for cleaning headlamps, windscreens or the like on a motor vehicle by means of cleaning fluid which is to be discharged through at least one spray nozzle (7), wherein in the rest position the spray nozzle (7) is arranged concealed and/or recessed in the bodywork of the motor vehicle and by means of an actuator can be positioned in a cleaning position in which discharge of the cleaning fluid is effected, characterised in that the spray nozzle (7) is arranged on a mounting which is secured pivotably to the bodywork and which in the rest position is pivoted into the bodywork and which can be pivoted out into the cleaning position by the actuator.

2. A device according to claim 1 characterised in that the spray nozzle is arranged under a pivotable flap (5) which in the rest position covers the opening in the bodywork in flush relationship.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the actuator is operated hydraulically, preferably by the cleaning fluid.

4. A device according to one of claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the actuator acts on at least one pivot arm (18) or a pivot lever (9) which produces the outward extension movement of the spray nozzle (7) into the cleaning position.

5. A device according to one of claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the spray nozzle (7) is held in the rest position by a return spring (17).

6. A device according to one of claims 1 to 5 characterised in that the actuator is in the form of a piston cylinder unit operated by the hydraulic pressure of the cleaning fluid.

7. A device according to claim 6 characterised in that the actuator includes a piston rod (14) which acts on the pivot arm (18) or the pivot lever (9) in such a way that the linear piston stroke movement is converted into a rotary movement of the pivot arm (8) or the pivot lever (9) about a pivot axis (8).

8. A device according to claim 6 characterised in that the piston (13) of the actuator acts with its end directly on a traction element which passes through the cylinder (10) and which is connected to the pivot arm (18) or the pivot lever (9).

9. A device according to one of claims 6 to 8 characterised in that the pivot arm (18) is pivotably mounted to a fixing (11) for the piston cylinder unit or the cylinder (10) itself.

10. A device according to one of claims 1 to 6 characterised in that the actuator is in the form of a hydraulic rotary drive (28) whose axis of rotation corresponds to the pivot axis (8) of the pivot arm (18).

11. A device according to claim 10 characterised in that the rotary drive includes a piston (13) which is linearly movable within a cylinder (10) and which can be acted upon by the cleaning fluid and which acts on a rotor (32) mounted rotatably and longitudinally movably in the piston, wherein the rotor (32) has a mounting trunnion (33) forming the pivot axis (8) of the pivot arm (18).

12. A device according to one of claims 1 to 11 characterised in that there is provided a pivot arm assembly comprising two pivot arms (18) which are arranged rotatably about a common pivot axis (8).

13. A device according to one of claims 1 to 12 characterised in that the flap (5) can be extended outwardly at its side which faces towards the surface to be cleaned, with the pivot axis (8) extending approximately at the level of the outer surface of the bodywork.

14. A device according to one of claims 1, 3 and 5 to 13 characterised in that the spray nozzle (7) is arranged on a cover (39) which can be lifted out of the bodywork and which can be pivoted into a position in front of the surface to be cleaned and which in the rest position closes an opening in the bodywork in flush relationship.

15. A device according to claim 14 characterised in that the spray nozzle (7) is fixed on the outside of the cover (39).

16. A device according to one of claims 1 to 15 characterised in that there are provided means for feeding the cleaning fluid through the actuator to the spray nozzle (7).

17. A device according to one of claims 1 to 16 characterised in that at least one duct for passing the cleaning fluid to the spray nozzle (7) is provided in at least one pivot arm (18).

18. A device according to one of claims 1 to 17 characterised in that it is integrated into the bumper (2) or the trim cladding thereof or the headlamp assembly of a motor vehicle.