Abstract:
A window washing device for a windshield window of a vehicle has at least one spraying nozzle with at least one nozzle opening through which a spraying jet is sprayed onto a windshield window, the nozzle opening being adjustable so that an angle, which a direction of the nozzle opening encloses with the windshield window, is reduced with an increasing travel wind.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a window washing device for a windshield window. 
     The window washing devices for vehicles, as a rule are used in connection with window wipers. They are activated when the moisture, due to precipitation, is not sufficient to clean the vehicle window. They contain a water container, spraying nozzles and a pump. The pump supplies water which can contain cleaning and antifreeze agents with pressure from the water container to the spraying nozzles. The feeding pressure of the pump is determined by the spraying nozzles, and the spraying nozzles are oriented so that when the vehicle is stopped, the water is distributed over a large surface through the wiping region of the window wiper, without throwing drops of water toward passersbys. 
     In the case of strong wind or increased vehicle speed, the spraying cone is drifted and pressed against the window, so that only a small, lower and insufficient region of the window is wetted. If the spraying nozzle is oriented or the pressure is increased so that with increased speed a sufficient region is wetted with water, then with the same spraying pressure and lower speed or when the vehicle is stopped, there is a danger that water bounces back from the window or is sprayed beyond the window and reaches passersbys. In this case, the water consumption is increased since a lot of water is required and a great part of the sprayed water is not used. As a result, the water container must have great dimensions or must be frequently filled. In addition, more cleaning agents and antifreeze agents are used, which contaminate the environment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a window washing device for a windshield window, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior article. 
     In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in a window washing device for a windshield window, in which the nozzle opening is adjustable so that the angle which is enclosed between the direction of the nozzle opening and the windshield window reduces with an increasing travel wind. 
     The spraying jet, without consideration of the travel wind, reaches the upper region of the windshield window or sprays over the roof of the vehicle. The travel wind, however, deviates the spraying jet against the windshield window so that, despite the smaller angle, the spraying jet hits the center of the windshield. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the spraying nozzle is mounted on a flat, yieldable component which changes its inclination relative to the windshield window in the reaction to the travel wind. The component which is either elastic or is elastically connected with a motor hood, is pressed down greater at the end which faces the travel wind than at the end which faces the windshield window. The yieldability is determined with regard to the travel wind so that the nozzle opening assumes a suitable inclination toward the windshield in correspondence with the travel wind. The force which the travel wind applies to the component depends, in addition to the strength of the travel wind, also on the size of the surface of the component subjected to the action of the stream, as well as on its resistance. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the component is connected with the motor hood turnably about an axis of the hinge and is supported by a spring element which counteracts the force of the travel wind. The yieldability of the component can be easily determined by a modification of the spring rigidity of the spring element to the specific features of the vehicle. 
     It is further advantageous that the spring rigidity and the pre-tensioning of the spring element are adjustable. Advantageously, the turning movement of the component is limited by a stop, against which the spring element of the component presses in the immovable position or with a low travel wind. 
     For increasing the air resistance of the component and thereby improving the action of the travel wind, the component has a curvature which provides a greater engaging surface for the travel wind. Further, it is advantageous to provide a yieldable component both at the driver side and also at the co-driver side with a spraying nozzle, so that the whole windshield is sprayed. 
     The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective partial view of a vehicle with a window washing device in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a view showing a schematic section corresponding to line  2 — 2  in FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 3 is a view showing the very end of the embodiment to FIG.  2 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference number  10  identifies a vehicle in which a window wiper  12  is provided on a driver&#39;s side and on a co-driver&#39;s side. Its wiper blade  14  with a wiper lip  16  covers wiping field  52  on windshield window  18 . Spraying nozzles  36  are arranged on a motor hood  30  at both vehicle sides. Their spraying jets  38  reach the wiping field  52  approximately in its center. 
     The spraying nozzles  36  are activated when, during wiping, the natural moisture due to precipitation or spraying water is not sufficient for the window wiper  12  to achieve good wiping results. The spraying nozzles  36  are mounted on a component  32  which is formed as a flap, as shown in FIG. 2, so that the spraying jets  38  act in the case of a great travel wind  40  on the wiping field  52  in a favorable region and wet the same. 
     The flap  32  is connected by a hinge  34  with the motor hood  30  at one end which faces the windshield window  18 . The spraying nozzle  36 , which is mounted by a mounting element  44  on the flap  32 , extends with the water passage  48  through the motor hood  30  and is connected with a not shown, conventional water source. 
     A spring element  46  formed as a helical spring surrounds the water passage  48  and presses the flap  32  against an abutment  54  or against an abutment which is formed by an adjusting screw. The adjusting screw, which is provided as an alternative to the abutment  54 , can change the pre-tensioning of the spring element and adjust it to the specifics of the vehicle. It is thereby determined, to which intensity of the travel wind  40  the flap  32  reacts and changes the direction of the nozzle opening  50 . 
     In the initial position, the nozzle opening  50  of the injection nozzle  36  is oriented to the wiping field  52  of the windshield window. The direction of the nozzle opening  50 , which substantially corresponds to the spraying jet  38  without action fo the travel wind  40 , forms an angle a with the windshield window  18 . The travel wind  40  produces a force  42  on the flap  32 , which increases with the increasing travel wind. The flap  32  is turned downwardly around the hinge  34  on the motor hood  30 , when it overcomes the pre-tensioning of the spring element. Thereby the spraying jet  38  is displaced more toward the upper edge of the windshield window  18  so that the angle between the direction of the nozzle opening  50  and the windshield window  18  is smaller. Since the travel wind  40  acts simultaneously on the spraying jet  38 , it deviates toward the windshield window  18 . Whereby, it acts again approximately the same location of the wiping field  52 , as without the action of the travel wind  40 . 
     The spring element characteristic is determined in accordance with the vehicle specifics so that the spraying jet  38 , at all speeds of the travel. 
     The spring element characteristic is determined in accordance with the vehicle specifics so that the spraying jet  38 , at all speeds of the travel wind  40  acts in a favorable region of the wiping field  52  of the windshield window  18 . Preferably, the spraying strength of the spring element  46  is adjustable, for changing and efficient spraying length, by an adjusting element  64 . 
     The windshield window  18  is mounted on a vehicle chassis  24  by an elastic adhesive layer  22  and sealed from outside by a seal  20 . A so-called hood gap  28  between the motor hood and the windshield window  18  is closed by a cover  26  from a not shown motor space. 
     In a variant of the present invention which is shown in FIG. 3, a component  60  is mounted through an elastic connection  58  on the motor hood, in which the spraying nozzle  36  is located. The elastic connection  56  takes up the functions of the hinge  34  and the spring element  46 . A curvature  56  which is steeper toward the direction of the travel wind  40 , increases the air resistance and increases thereby the force  42  which the travel wind  40  applies to the component  60 . 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in the window washing device for windshield window, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.