Windshield wiper de-icing
First Claim
1. A vehicle windshield washing and wiper de-icing system for a windshield, the system comprising:
- a wiper assembly configured to move a windshield wiper across the windshield from a first position through a wiping motion back to the first position;
a first nozzle configured to deliver washing fluid to the windshield before or during the wiping motion; and
a second nozzle configured to deliver washing fluid to the wiper while in the first position, to remove ice therefrom.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for vehicle windshield washing-wiping and wiper de-icing. Primary nozzles provide washing fluid to the windshield during normal operations and secondary nozzles bathe the wiper arms with washing fluid to de-ice the wipers during a de-icing mode. Washing fluid is drawn from a reservoir and delivered to the nozzles by a pump. When the outside air temperature T is greater than Tc, the critical temperature for ice formation, the wipers and washing-wiping proceed normally with washing fluid delivered to the primary nozzles for windshield washing. When T≦Tc and the wipers are not moving, a washer fluid supply line valve delivers washing fluid to the secondary nozzles to de-ice the wipers. The wiper motor, washing fluid pump and valve are operated by a controller based on inputs from wiper position and air temperature sensors, using predetermined information stored in on-board memory.
25 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A vehicle windshield washing and wiper de-icing system for a windshield, the system comprising:
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a wiper assembly configured to move a windshield wiper across the windshield from a first position through a wiping motion back to the first position;
a first nozzle configured to deliver washing fluid to the windshield before or during the wiping motion; and
a second nozzle configured to deliver washing fluid to the wiper while in the first position, to remove ice therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for windshield washing-wiping and wiper de-icing in a vehicle in response to an operator'"'"'s ‘
- wash’
request, wherein the vehicle has a pump for selectively delivering washing fluid to a primary nozzle configured to spray washing fluid on the windshield and a secondary nozzle configured to spray washing fluid on the wiper, the method comprising;
starting the pump, and determining whether or not the outside air temperature T is greater than a predetermined value Tc;
and then if T>
Tc,running the wiper in a wash mode while the pump continues to run, delivering washing fluid to one or more primary nozzles while the pump continues to run, and stopping the pump when the operator'"'"'s ‘
wash’
request ends;
else if T≦
Tc, thenrunning the wipers in a de-icing mode while the pump continues to run, and determining whether the wipers are moving, and if not moving, delivering washing fluid to the secondary nozzle while the pump continues to run;
orif moving, not delivering washing fluid to the secondary nozzle; and
stopping the pump when the ‘
wash’
request from the operator ends. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
- wash’
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17. A vehicle mounted system for wiping and washing windshields and de-icing windshield wipers, comprising:
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at least one windshield wiper;
an actuator coupled to the at least one wiper for moving the wiper from a rest position across the windshield and back to the rest position;
a wash-mode switch;
an outside air temperature sensor;
a reservoir adapted to receive washing fluid;
a washing fluid pump coupled to the reservoir;
a valve coupled to the pump;
a first plurality of nozzles coupled to the pump for spraying washing fluid on the windshield while the pump is pumping;
a second plurality of second nozzles coupled to the at least one valve for spraying washing fluid on the wipers while the pump is pumping and the valve is open; and
a controller coupled to the switch, the actuator, the sensor, the pump and the valve, wherein in response to a signal received from the switch, the controller turns on the pump and compares the outside air temperature T received from the sensor with a predetermined stored value Tc, and then if T <
Tc, turns on the actuator and opens the valve to deliver washing fluid to the second plurality of nozzles for de-icing when the wiper is in the rest position. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification