Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Liquid sprayer for transparent panel
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-01
2001-07-10
Morris, Lesley D. (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Liquid sprayer for transparent panel
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257500
ABSTRACT:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a window and lens glass cleaning system for a motor vehicle, having a washer fluid container for storing washer fluid, having at least one washer fluid pump which is arranged on or in the washer fluid container, for conveying washer fluid from the washer fluid container to washer nozzles to be arranged in front of motor vehicle windows and lenses, and having an electronic control unit for activating the washer fluid pump or the washer fluid pumps.
Such window and lens glass cleaning systems are frequently used in modern motor vehicles and are known from practical experience. In this case, the washer fluid container contains a washer fluid pump in each case for a windshield, a rear window and for headlight lenses of the motor vehicle. The washer fluid pumps can be activated independently of one another by operating elements arranged within the passenger cell of the motor vehicle. The electronic control unit is fastened at a splashproof location in the motor vehicle. Signal lines are routed from the control unit to the operating elements and supply lines for electric power are routed to the washer fluid pumps and to the motor vehicle electric network.
A disadvantageous feature in the known window and lens glass cleaning system is that its installation in the motor vehicle turns out to be very complicated. Furthermore, the window and lens glass cleaning system has first of all to be put together before it is installed in the motor vehicle for preliminary testing and then has to be taken apart again. A very great number of working steps are required for this.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is based on the problem of providing a window and lens glass cleaning system of the type mentioned at the beginning in such a manner that it can be installed in as simple a manner as possible in the motor vehicle and can be tested in a very simple manner before it is installed in the motor vehicle.
According to the invention, this problem is solved by the control unit and the washer fluid container being formed as a constructional unit which can be preassembled.
This enables all of the electrical components of the window and lens glass cleaning system according to the invention to be preassembled and tested outside the motor vehicle. The invention means that after the testing there is no longer any need to separate the electronic control unit from the washer fluid container, since the constructional unit can be installed in a single operation. This makes the installation in the motor vehicle of the window and glass lens cleaning system according to the invention very simple. A further advantage of the window and lens glass cleaning system according to the invention is that the supply lines can be designed such that they are very short. Since the washer fluid pumps require starting currents of 30 to 50 amps, the supply lines are to be provided with a large cross section. A reduction in the length of the supply lines therefore results in a large reduction in the production costs of the window and lens glass cleaning system according to the invention.
Wipers of known window and lens glass cleaning systems for different windows and lenses of the motor vehicle in each case have their own electronic control units which enable them to be activated independently of one another. Furthermore, the known window and lens glass cleaning system has a further electronic control unit for activating heating elements for washer nozzles, washer fluid lines and the washer fluid container at low outside temperatures. Then, to further simplify the installation in the motor vehicle of the window and lens glass cleaning system according to the invention, it helps if at least one further electronic control unit of a heating device for the washer fluid, of a motor drive for moveable washer nozzles, of a multiway valve for distributing the washer fluid or of a wiper is fastened on the washer fluid container. Since this means that the control units for various components of the window and lens glass cleaning system are arranged in close proximity to one another, connecting up the control units to one another becomes particularly cost-effective. As a result, the operation of the wiper and of the washer nozzles, for example, can be very simply synchronized.
To further simplify the installation of the window and lens glass cleaning system according to the invention it helps if an evaluating device of a fluid-level sensor is fastened on the washer fluid container. Since in this arrangement the fluid-level sensor and the evaluating device are arranged in close proximity to one another, this design results in particularly cost-effective manufacturing of the window and lens glass cleaning system according to the invention.
According to another advantageous development of the invention, a plurality of fluid levels in the washer fluid container can be measured with particularly low constructional outlay if the fluid-level sensor has a plurality of contact plates embedded in the wall of the washer fluid container, for measuring the conductivity.
According to another advantageous development of the invention, the electronic control units and the evaluating device of the fluid-level sensor can be connected to one another in a simple manner if a plurality of the electronic control units and the evaluating device of the fluid-level sensor form a constructional central processing unit. This design simplifies connecting up the control units to one another, so that the controls, for example, only require a single supply line for electric current. Furthermore, the invention means that the control units and the evaluating device of the fluid-level sensor can have common hardware, such as a processor, for example, and common software.
The installation in the motor vehicle of the window and lens glass cleaning system according to the invention can be further simplified if the electronic control units and the evaluating device of the fluid-level sensor have a common connecting socket. Furthermore, this design enables the individual components of the window and lens glass cleaning system according to the invention to be connected in a very simple manner to a data bus.
According to another advantageous development of the invention, the electronic controls are protected from damage with a low constructional outlay if the washer fluid container has a trough for accommodating the electronic control units or the electronic control unit.
According to another advantageous development of the invention, the washer fluid container becomes particularly simple in terms of design if the trough can be closed by a lid which can be latched in the washer fluid container.
According to another advantageous development of the invention, the lid can be manufactured together with the washer fluid container in a particularly cost-effective manner if the lid is connected to the washer fluid container on one side via a film hinge. Furthermore, this design simplifies the installation of the window and lens glass cleaning system according to the invention. Moreover, the lid is unable to be lost.
According to another advantageous development of the invention an overfilling warning or a refilling indication for the washer fluid container can be generated with particularly low constructional outlay if an optical or acoustic signaling device for generating an overfilling warning and/or a signal when the fluid level falls short of the minimum is arranged on the evaluating device of the fluid-level sensor. This means that only an insignificant outlay for connecting up the signaling device is required. Furthermore, the invention means that the washer fluid container can be identified without a problem by the person refilling it. The easy identification simplifies the refilling, in particular in the case of a washer fluid container having separate chambers for washers, cleaning concentrate and antifreeze. A buzzer and a light-emitting diode are particularly suitable as the signaling device.
REFERENCES:
paten
Kober Rainer
Petzold Sven
Farber Martin A.
Mannesmann VDO AG
Morris Lesley D.
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