Wiper assembly for sweeping a glass surface on a vehicle

Abstract

A wiper assembly for sweeping a glass surface on a vehicle. The wiper assembly includes a windshield washer assembly connected to the windshield wiper drive arm of the vehicle for controllably dispensing washer fluid directly down onto the glass surface of the vehicle. The wiper assembly also includes a novel control unit carried by the vehicle for controlling the dispensing of the washing liquid from the windshield washer assembly. Uniquely, the control unit includes a sensor that is operably associated with the pump for sensing the position of the wiper arm as it moves upwardly and downwardly relative to the glass surface and for controllably energizing the pump at selected positions of the wiper drive arm so that the washer fluid is always dispensed forwardly of the wiper blade to avoid smearing.

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         23 . A system for washing a surface, said system comprising:
 (a) wiper means in movable contact with the surface to be washed, wherein said wiper means is attached to a rotatable drive arm movable reciprocally along a path of travel;   (b) fluid dispensing control means operably associated with said wiper means for selectably dispensing fluid only in advance of said path of travel while said drive arm is in reciprocating motion;   (c) sensor means for sensing the position and direction of motion of said movable drive arm along said path of travel, wherein said sensor means is operably associated with said fluid dispensing control means; and   (d) pumping means operably associated with said fluid dispensing control means, wherein said pumping means is selectably energizable for a selectable portion of said reciprocating motion, for depositing fluid based on said sensed position and direction.   
     
     
         24 . The system as defined by  claim 23  in which said fluid dispensing control means further comprises:
 (a) at least one feed conduit having a fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet; 
 (b) said fluid inlet operatively associated with a fluid source; and 
 (c) said at least one fluid outlet positioned longitudinally along the length of said wiper means, such that said at least one fluid outlet controllably deposits fluid along a longitudinal edge of said wiper means. 
 
     
     
         25 . The system as defined by  claim 24  in which said fluid inlet is removably attached to said fluid source. 
     
     
         26 . The system as defined by  claim 23  in which said senor means comprises one or more mechanical sensors. 
     
     
         27 . The system as defined by  claim 23  in which said senor means comprises one or more optical sensors. 
     
     
         28 . The system as defined by  claim 23  in which said senor means comprises one or more magnetic sensors. 
     
     
         29 . The system as defined by  claim 24  in which said senor means comprises:
 (a) a position sensing means operably associated with said control means for sensing the position of said drive arm along said path of travel; and 
 (b) a clocking sensing means operably associated with said control means for sensing the direction of travel said drive arm along said path of travel. 
 
     
     
         30 . The system as defined by  claim 29  in which said senor means further comprises:
 (a) a first interlock sensing means; and 
 (b) a second interlock sensing means. 
 
     
     
         31 . The system defined by  claim 29 , in which said pumping means further comprises;
 (a) at least one fluid pump operatively associated with said fluid inlet;   (b) said at least one fluid pump operatively associated with said fluid dispensing control means, wherein said pump is selectably energizable for a selectable portion of said reciprocating motion, for depositing fluid based on said sensed position and direction, whereby, upon energization, said at least one fluid pump forces fluid from said at least one fluid outlet, such that said fluid is deposited only in advance of one direction of travel of said drive arm as it travels reciprocally along said path of travel.   
     
     
         32 . The system defined by  claim 31  wherein said at least one fluid pump is replaced by at least one solonoid valve. 
     
     
         33 . The system as defined by  claim 30  in which said fluid dispensing control means further comprises:
 (a) at least two feed conduits, each having a fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet; 
 (b) said fluid inlets operatively associated with a fluid source; and 
 (c) said at least one fluid outlets of said feed conduits positioned on opposite longitudinal edges of said wiper means, such that said at least one fluid outlets controllably deposit fluid along both longitudinal edges of said wiper means. 
 
     
     
         34 . The system defined by  claim 33 , in which said pumping means further comprises;
 (a) at least two fluid pumps;   (b) the first fluid pump operatively associated with the fluid inlet of the first feed conduit;   (c) the second fluid pump operatively associated with the fluid inlet of the second feed conduit; and   (d) said first fluid pump and said second fluid pump operably associated with said fluid dispensing control means, wherein said pumps are selectably energizable for a selectable portion of said reciprocating motion, for depositing fluid based on said sensed position, direction, first interlock, and second interlock, whereby, upon energization, said fluid pumps force fluid from said at least fluid outlets, such that said fluid is alternatively deposited only in advance of either direction of travel of said drive arm as it travels reciprocally along said path of travel.   
     
     
         35 . The system defined by  claim 34  wherein said at least two fluid pumps are replaced by at least two solonoid valves. 
     
     
         36 . An apparatus for washing a windshield, comprising;
 (a) a rotatable drive arm movable reciprocally along a path of travel;   (b) a windshield wiper attached to said drive arm, said windshield wiper in movable contact with the windshield;   (c) a feed conduit attached to said windshield wiper, having a fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet positioned along a longitudinal edge of said windshield wiper;   (d) a fluid source operatively connected to said fluid inlet;   (e) a pump operatively associated to said fluid inlet;   (f) a first sensor operatively connected to said drive arm for determining the position of said drive arm along said path of travel;   (g) a second sensor operatively connected to said drive arm for determining the direction of travel of said drive arm along said path of travel;   (h) a controller operatively connected to said first sensor and said second sensor; and   (i) said controller operatively connected to said pump, wherein said pump is selectably energizable for a selectable portion of said reciprocating motion, for depositing fluid based on said sensed position and direction, whereby, upon energization, said at least one fluid pump forces fluid from said at least one fluid outlet, such that said fluid is deposited only in advance of one direction of travel of said drive arm as it travels reciprocally along said path of travel.   
     
     
         37 . The system defined by  claim 36 , further comprising:
 (a) a first feed conduit attached to said windshield wiper, having a first fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet positioned along a longitudinal edge of said windshield wiper, wherein said first fluid inlet is operatively connected to said fluid source;   (b) a second feed conduit attached to the windshield wiper, having a second fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet positioned along the longitudinal edge of said windshield wiper that is opposite the first feed conduit, wherein said second fluid inlet is operatively connected to said fluid source;   (c) a third sensor operatively connected to said drive arm for determining the first interlock of the drive arm;   (d) a forth sensor operatively connected to said drive arm for determining the second interlock of the drive arm;   (e) said controller further operatively connected to said thrid sensor and said forth sensor;   (f) a first pump operatively connected to said first fluid inlet;   (g) a second pump operatively connected to said second fluid inlet; and   (h) said controller operably connect to said first fluid pump and said second fluid pump, wherein said pumps are selectably energizable for a selectable portion of said reciprocating motion, for depositing fluid based on said sensed position, direction, first interlock, and second interlock, whereby, upon energization, said fluid pumps force fluid from said fluid outlets, such that said fluid is alternatively deposited only in advance of either direction of travel of said drive arm as it travels reciprocally along said path of travel.   
     
     
         38 . The system defined by  claim 37  wherein one or more of the sensors are mechanical sensors. 
     
     
         39 . The system defined by  claim 37  wherein one or more of the sensors are optical sensors. 
     
     
         40 . The system defined by  claim 37  wherein one or more of the sensors are magnetic sensors. 
     
     
         41 . A method of washing a surface, comprising the steps of:
 (a) reciprocally rotating a drive arm along a path of travel, wherein said drive arm has an attached wiper means in movable contact with the surface to be washed;   (b) sensing the position and direction of travel of said drive arm along said path of travel;   (c) selectably depositing fluid only in advance of one direction of travel of said drive arm as it travels reciprocally along said path of travel, wherein said deposition is energized based on said sensed position and direction; and   (d) washing said surface using said washing means to sweep away said fluid deposited only in advance of one direction of travel of said drive arm as it travels reciprocally along said path of travel.   
     
     
         42 . the method of  claim 41 , further comprising the steps of:
 (a) selectably depositing fluid only in advance of either direction of travel of said drive arm as it travels reciprocally along said path of travel, wherein said deposition is energized based on said sensed position and direction; and   (b) washing said surface using said washing means to sweep away said fluid deposited only in advance of either direction of travel of said drive arm as it travels reciprocally along said path of travel.