Patent GB-819131-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to windscreen wiping and washing systems
Inventor: MATTON PAUL NAPOLEON
IPC: B60S1/48
Filed: 1954-05-05
Abstract: 819,131. Windscreen cleaners. TRICOFOLBERTH Ltd. Aug. 5, 1955 [May 5, 1954], No. 6544/54. Class 138(1). [Also in Group XXXVII] A power-operated windscreen washer 1, Fig. 1, discharging a measured charge of liquid at each operation, is combined with an electrically operated windscreen wiper (energized through contacts 47, 48) and both the washer and the wiper are brought into operation by actuation of a single control 9, 10. The windscreen washer comprises a known form of diaphragm pump 1, mounted above a liquid reservoir 2 and connected by a pipe 7, manual control valve 9 (operable by a button 10) and a pipe 8, with the inlet manifold of the vehicle engine. The liquid outlet of the pump 1 is connected by a pipe 3 with a hydraulically operated valve 11 which is connected by a pipe 4 and pipes 5 with washer nozzles 6, by a pipe 23 with the suction pipe 8 and by a pipe 28 with a reciprocating ram 29. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 the valve 11 has a chamber 12 connected at 13 to the pipe 3 and by a port 14, non-return valve 15 and outlet 16 with the pipe 4. When the button 10 is depressed suction applied to the pump 1 carries liquid to be raised from the reservoir 2 and thereafter delivered to the chamber 12. The liquid pressure operates the valve 15 to pass on to the nozzles 6 and also lifts a diaphragm 17 to raise a valve 18, and thus through a valve stem 19, to raise a valve 20 against a spring 21. The suction pipe 23 connects at 24, Fig. 3, with a port 25 normally closed by the valve 20. When the valve 20 is raised the port 25 connects with an annular space 26 connected at 27 with the pipe 28. The space 26 also communicates with a port 30 and thus with an annular opening 31 communicating with a space above the diaphragm 17 and connected by a port 32 with atmosphere. When the valve 20 is raised the opening 31 is sealed from atmosphere by the valve 18. Suction applied at 33 to the ram 29, Fig. 4, causes a piston 35 to be raised against a spring 39, the space below the piston being connected to atmosphere through a non-return valve 38, port 37 and filter 36. Initially the piston slides on its rod 40 until it engages a circlip 42 whereafter the rod 40 is raised with the piston. Carried by the rod 40 in a switch member 44 having bridged contacts 45 and bridged contacts 47. In the raised position of the rod, the contacts 47 engage contacts 48 and energize the circuit of the windscreen wiper motor. When the ram is inoperative, as shown, the contacts 45 engage contacts 46 which are in circuit with the motor through an independent manual switch, whereby the motor can be operated without operating the washer. When liquid has been sprayed through the nozzles 6 and the pressure falls in the chamber 12, Fig. 2, the spring 21 causes the valve 20 to close the port 25 and the valve 18 to open the opening 31. The spring thereafter causes the piston 35 to descend in its cylinder 34. The return of the piston is retarded by a throttle valve 53 adjustable by a screw 54, so that the wiper motor continues to operate for a short time after the washer has ceased to operate. The piston slides on the rod 40 until it engages a plate 52 thereon whereafter the rod is moved to break the contacts 47, 48 and remake the contacts 45, 46. According to the Provisional Specification the washer pump may be actuated by an electric motor or solenoid, interconnected with the wiper motor and a time switch, whereby the pump motor is operated for a predetermined interval and the wiper motor is started and continues to run for a short time after the washer ceases to operate. The time switch may be pneumatically operated and a piston pump may be used instead of a diaphragm pump. Also the wiper and washer system may be operated by super-atmospheric pressure instead of sub-atmospheric pressure. Specifications 662,241, 736,380 and 752,941 are referred to.