Vehicle window cleaning apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10093278-B2
Application number	US-201615071777-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2016
Priority date	Mar 18, 2015
Publication date	Oct 9, 2018
Grant date	Oct 9, 2018

Abstract

Apparatus for cleaning a window of a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes: a fluid extraction opening provided on the vehicle in proximity to the window of the vehicle; a suction pump mounted in the vehicle; and a fluid tight conduit extending between the fluid extraction opening and the suction pump.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Apparatus for cleaning a window of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
a fluid extraction opening provided on a wiper blade, wherein the wiper blade is mounted on the vehicle and engages the window;
one or more channels provided within and extending along a full length of the wiper blade, wherein the fluid extraction opening is in fluidic communication with the one or more channels;
a suction pump mounted on the vehicle; and
a fluid tight conduit extending between the fluid extraction opening and the suction pump.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the suction pump is air powered.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the suction pump comprises a venturi duct through which air flows; and
wherein an outlet of the fluid tight conduit is in fluidic communication with the flow of air at a throat of the venturi duct.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the suction pump comprises:
a first piston configured to be acted upon by pressurised air; and
a second piston configured to act upon the flow within the fluid tight conduit; wherein
the first piston and the second piston are mechanically coupled.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the air is ram air provided by a ram air source of the vehicle.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the air is bled from a ram air system configured to provide ram air to another system of the vehicle.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the air is bled from an enhanced induction system for an engine of the vehicle.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the apparatus further comprises:
a controller, wherein the controller comprises one or more modules configured to determine whether the ram air source is demanded by another system of the vehicle.

9. A vehicle comprising the apparatus according to claim 1 .

10. A vehicle comprising the apparatus according to claim 8 .

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Barr William Gerald

Classifications

• B60S1/0477

  Arrangement for deicing or for removing debris from wiper blades (heated wiper blade B60S1/3805) · CPC title

• B60S1/546 Primary

  arranged in wiper blades · CPC title

• B60S1/02

  Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices {(wind deflectors specially adapted for preventing soiling of windows or windscreens B60J1/2002)} · CPC title

• B60S1/0486

  the cleaning device being integrated with the vehicle · CPC title

• B08B7/04

  by a combination of operations · CPC title