WINDSHIELD WIPER DE-ICING

• US 20100101604A1
• Filed: 11/02/2009
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: FONVILLE, CARL E., KARRAM, MICHAEL A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,882,927 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/6
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/482 combined with the operation of windscreen wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/487 the liquid being heated nozzles provided with heating means B60S1/52
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/52 Arrangement of nozzles; Liquid spreading meansnozzles per se B05B
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/522 moving liquid spreading means, e.g. arranged in wiper arms

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.

Claims

1. A method for washing-wiping of a windshield and de-icing of a wiper in a vehicle in response to a request, wherein the vehicle has a pump for selectively delivering a washing fluid to a primary nozzle configured to spray the washing fluid on the windshield and a secondary nozzle configured to spray the washing fluid on the wiper, the method comprising:

starting the pump, and

determining whether an outside air temperature T outside the vehicle is greater than a predetermined value Tc;

and if T>

Tc;

running the wiper in a wash mode while the pump continues to run,

delivering the washing fluid to the primary nozzle while the pump continues to run, and

stopping the pump when the request ends;

else if T≦

Tc, then;

running the wiper in a de-icing mode while the pump continues to run,

determining whether the wiper is moving, and

if the wiper is not moving, delivering the washing fluid to the secondary nozzle while the pump continues to run;

or

if the wiper is moving, not delivering the washing fluid to the secondary nozzle; and

stopping the pump when the request ends.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, following stopping the pump:

running the wiper in a further mode to promote drying of the windshield.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising,. upon stopping the pump:

returning operation of the wiper to whatever operating mode existed prior to the request.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising, upon stopping the pump:

running the wiper in a further mode for time duration t1.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of retrieving the predetermined value Tc from a memory.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing the predetermined value Tc in a sensor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined value Tc is between approximately positive five degrees Celsius and approximately negative five degrees Celsius.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined value Tc is approximately zero degrees Celsius.

9. A system for controlling washing-wiping of a windshield and de-icing of a wiper in a vehicle in response to a request, wherein the vehicle has a pump for selectively delivering a washing fluid to a primary nozzle configured to spray the washing fluid on the windshield and a secondary nozzle configured to spray the washing fluid on the wiper, the system comprising:

a sensor configured to measure an outside air temperature T outside the vehicle;

a controller coupled to the sensor and configured to;

start the pump;

determine whether the outside air temperature T is greater than a predetermined value Tc;

and if T>

Tc;

run the wiper in a wash mode while the pump continues to run,

deliver the washing fluid to the primary nozzle while the pump continues to run, and

stop the pump when the request ends;

else if T≦

Tc, then;

run the wiper in a de-icing mode while the pump continues to run,

determine whether the wiper is moving, and

if the wiper is not moving, deliver the washing fluid to the secondary nozzle while the pump continues to run;

or

if the wiper is moving, not deliver the washing fluid to the secondary nozzle; and

stop the pump when the request ends.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to run the wiper in a further mode to promote drying of the windshield following stopping the pump.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured, upon stopping the pump, to return operation of the wiper to whatever operating mode existed prior to the request.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured, upon stopping the pump, to run the wiper in a further mode for time duration t1.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a memory configured to store the predetermined value Tc, wherein the controller is further configured to store the predetermined value Tc from the memory.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the sensor is further configured to store the predetermined value Tc.

15. A system for washing-wiping a windshield and de-icing a wiper in a vehicle in response to a request, the system comprising:

a sensor configured to measure an outside air temperature T outside the vehicle;

a primary nozzle configured to spray a washing fluid on the windshield;

a secondary nozzle configured to spray the washing fluid on the wiper;

a pump configured to selectively deliver the washing fluid to the primary nozzle and to the secondary nozzle; and

a controller coupled to the primary nozzle, the secondary nozzle, the sensor, and the pump, and configured to;

start the pump;

determine whether the outside air temperature T is greater than a predetermined value Tc;

and if T>

Tc;

run the wiper in a wash mode while the pump continues to run,

deliver the washing fluid to the primary nozzle while the pump continues to run, and

stop the pump when the request ends;

else if T≦

Tc, then;

run the wiper in a de-icing mode while the pump continues to run,

determine whether the wiper is moving, and

if the wiper is not moving, deliver the washing fluid to the secondary nozzle while the pump continues to run;

or

if the wiper is moving, not deliver the washing fluid to the secondary nozzle; and

stop the pump when the request ends.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to run the wiper in a further mode to promote drying of the windshield following stopping the pump.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured, upon stopping the pump, to return operation of the wiper to whatever operating mode existed prior to the request.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured, upon stopping the pump, to run the wiper in a further mode for time duration t1.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a memory configured to store the predetermined value Tc, wherein the controller is further configured to store the predetermined value Tc from the memory.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the sensor is further configured to store the predetermined value Tc.