Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Attachments – Optical-member-attachable cleaner
Patent
1997-06-23
2000-01-04
Graham, Gary K.
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Attachments
Optical-member-attachable cleaner
1525025, 74 31, B60S 126, B60S 120, B60S 118
Patent
active
06009592&
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to windscreen wipers in general. In particular, it concerns wipers which move linearly across a surface to be wiped and wipers for preventing drag-back of water during wiping of a surface.
It is known that a wiper travelling linearly across a generally rectangular surface can wipe a much larger proportion of the surface than a wiper with the conventional arcuate motion. However, wipers of this type are not currently in extensive use. This is mainly due to structural problems with the mechanism for producing the required linear reciprocating movement.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,665,570 to Waters, No. 1,748,055 to Brown et al. and more recently No. 5,068,942 to Vrettos describe examples of the predominant mechanism used in conventional linear wipers, hereinbelow referred to as the endless-belt mechanism. The endless-belt mechanism includes an endless belt or chain positioned along one side of a window, and a wiper attached by a rotatable bracket to a point on the endless belt. When the endless belt is driven continuously in one direction by an electric motor, the wiper is pulled to-and-fro across the surface. The endless-belt mechanism has numerous structural problems. There is a tendency for the belt to stretch, resulting in failure of the drive mechanism. Belts made from rubber, synthetic polymers or fabric generally have a very limited lifetime due to wear over the rollers at each end.
Use of a metal chain generally causes unacceptable noise. And when repairs are needed, the entire belt will generally need replacing and refitting.
An alternative mechanism is described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,561,320 to Glidric et al. in which an electric motor mounted on a wiper is used to drive the wiper along a stationary track. A switch is used to reverse the polarity of the power supply when the wiper reaches each end of the window. This design has the advantage that it uses a static track which requires much less maintenance than a moving belt. However, this mechanism puts great strain on the motor by abruptly reversing the polarity of the power supply while the motor is rotating rapidly and has the momentum of the entire wiper assembly tending to maintain its rotation. Since this happens every time the wiper reaches the end of its motion, the motor is likely to deteriorate rapidly requiring frequent maintenance. There is also a delay at each end of the movement due to the time taken by the motor to accelerate to its full speed.
There is therefore a need for an apparatus which has a reliable mechanism for driving a wiper linearly across a window.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is of an apparatus for wiping a window.
Hence, there is provided according to the teachings of the present invention, an apparatus for wiping a window, the apparatus comprising: (a) a wiper for wiping the window; (b) a first track substantially parallel to at least a portion of the window; (c) a second track substantially parallel to and displaced from the first track; (d) a first motorized drive wheel for driving the wiper alone the first track in a first direction; and (e) a second motorized drive wheel for driving the wiper along the second track in a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction.
According to a further feature of the present invention the first motorized drive wheel and the second motorized drive wheel are a single motorized drive wheel.
According to a further feature of the present invention the first track has a first end and a second end and the second track has a first end and a second end, the apparatus further comprising: (f) a first curved connecting track connecting between the first end of the first track and the first end of the second track; and (g) a second curved connecting track connecting between the second end of the first track and the second end of the second track, such that the first track, the second track, the first connecting track and the second connecting track form a closed loop track.
According t
REFERENCES:
patent: 1561320 (1925-11-01), Glidric et al.
patent: 2984855 (1961-05-01), Murray
patent: 5068942 (1991-12-01), Vrettos
patent: 5564156 (1996-10-01), Habba
Friedman Mark M.
Graham Gary K.
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