Windscreen washer system

Abstract

A windscreen washer system for vehicles, in particular for motor vehicles, including at least one rainwater collection element connected to at least one suction pump for collecting rainwater and conveying the same to a collection tank connected in turn to a pump for delivering windscreen washer fluid where the rainwater collection element is integrated in at least one wiper blade.

Claims

1. A windscreen washer system comprising: at least one rainwater collection element connected to at least one suction pump for collecting rainwater and conveying the same to a collection tank connected in turn to a pump for delivering windscreen washer fluid, wherein the rainwater collection element is integrated in at least one wiper blade; a central processing unit configured to receive an activation signal of the at least one suction pump, the central processing unit being connected to at least one of: at least one rain sensor that provides the activation signal of the at least one suction pump in the event a rain condition is detected; and a lever for controlling a windscreen wiper that provides the activation signal of the at least one suction pump following the activation of the lever; wherein the at least one suction pump is connected to the rainwater collection element by at least one connecting pipe; wherein the central processing unit is further connected to: at least one turbidity sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of a turbidity of a fluid flowing through the at least one connecting pipe; and at least one level sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of a filling level of the collection tank; wherein the central processing unit is configured to transmit the activation signal to the at least one suction pump after a delay time with respect to a generation of the activation signal of the at least one suction pump by the rain sensor and/or the wiper control lever; and wherein the central processing unit is configured to transmit the activation signal to the at least one suction pump based on signals received from the at least one turbidity sensor and the at least one level sensor and based on the absence of an activation signal of the pump for delivering windscreen washer fluid.

2. The windscreen washer system of claim 1, wherein the at least one rainwater collection element comprises at least one perforated tube inserted in the at least one wiper blade.

3. The windscreen washer system of claim 2, wherein the at least one perforated tube of the at least one rainwater collection element is hydraulically connected to a suction pump for collecting liquid through a plurality of holes of the tube.

4. The windscreen washer system of claim 3, wherein the at least one suction pump is connected to the at least one tube by the at least one connecting pipe and wherein the at least one turbidity sensor is arranged along the at least one connecting pipe.

5. The windscreen washer system of claim 1, wherein at least one filter is interposed along the at least one connecting pipe, the at least one filter being adapted to retain solid impurities present in the fluid.

6. The windscreen washer system of claim 1, wherein the collection tank comprises the at least one level sensor and wherein the at least one level sensor provides a block signal for the at least one suction pump in the event a first threshold level is exceeded.

7. The windscreen washer system of claim 1 comprising a manual button configured to generate a switching on signal of the windscreen washer system.

8. The windscreen washer system of claim 1, wherein: the collection tank comprises a first chamber into which the at least one connecting pipe exits, the first chamber being connected to a second chamber for housing a detergent that is delivered in the first chamber through a dispenser; a concentration sensor is provided in the first chamber and configured to detect a degree of dilution of the detergent in a liquid present in the first chamber; and the detergent is gradually released into the first chamber so as to keep the dilution of the detergent in the liquid to a predetermined level.

9. A windscreen washer system comprising: at least one rainwater collection element connected to at least one suction pump for collecting rainwater and conveying the same to a collection tank connected in turn to a pump for delivering windscreen washer fluid, wherein the rainwater collection element is integrated in at least one wiper blade, the wiper blade comprising at least one tube provided with a plurality of holes; a central processing unit configured to receive an activation signal of the at least one suction pump, the central processing unit being connected to at least one of: at least one rain sensor that provides the activation signal of the at least one suction pump in the event a rain condition is detected; and a lever for controlling a windscreen wiper that provides the activation signal of the at least one suction pump following the activation of the lever; wherein the at least one suction pump is connected to the rainwater collection element by at least one connecting pipe; wherein the central processing unit is further connected to: at least one turbidity sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of a turbidity of a fluid flowing through the at least one connecting pipe; and at least one level sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of a filling level of the collection tank; wherein the central processing unit is configured to transmit the activation signal to the at least one suction pump after a delay time with respect to a generation of the activation signal of the at least one suction pump by the rain sensor and/or the wiper control lever; and wherein the central processing unit is configured to transmit the activation signal to the at least one suction pump based on signals received from the at least one turbidity sensor and the at least one level sensor and based on the absence of an activation signal of the pump for delivering windscreen washer fluid.

10. The windscreen washer system of claim 9, wherein the at least one tube of the at least one wiper blade is hydraulically connected to the at least one suction pump for collecting liquid through the holes of the tube.

11. The windscreen washer system of claim 10, wherein the at least one suction pump is connected to the at least one tube by the at least one connecting pipe and wherein the at least one turbidity sensor is arranged along the at least one connecting pipe.

12. The windscreen washer system of claim 9, wherein at least one filter is interposed along the at least one connecting pipe, the at least one filter being adapted to retain solid impurities present in the fluid.

13. The windscreen washer system of claim 8, wherein the collection tank comprises the at least one level sensor and wherein the at least one level sensor is configured to provide a block signal for the at least one suction pump when a first threshold level is exceeded.

14. The windscreen washer system of claim 9 comprising a manual button configured to generate a switching on signal of the windscreen washer system.

15. The windscreen washer system of claim 8, wherein: the collection tank comprises a first chamber into which the at least one connecting pipe exits, the first chamber being connected to a second chamber for housing a detergent that is delivered in the first chamber through a dispenser; a concentration sensor is provided in the first chamber and configured to detect a degree of dilution of the detergent in a liquid present in the first chamber; and the detergent is gradually released into the first chamber so as to keep the dilution of the detergent in the liquid to a predetermined level.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The different features in the single configurations may be combined with one another as desired according to the description above, to make use of the advantages resulting in a specific way from a particular combination.

(2) In such drawings,

(3) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a windscreen washer system for motor vehicles according to the present invention;

(4) FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a windscreen washer system for motor vehicles according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) In the following description, identical reference numerals are used for the illustration of the figures to indicate construction elements having the same function. Moreover, for clarity of illustration, some numerical references may be not repeated in all the figures.

(6) With reference to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a windscreen washer system according to the present invention is shown, indicated with reference numeral 10 as a whole.

(7) The windscreen washer system 10 comprises at least one rainwater collection element 11 integrated into the wiper blades 12 of the glass that the system is intended to wash.

(8) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the rainwater collection element 11 comprises a pair of rigid tubes 11, each integrated in a wiper blade 12. In particular, each rigid tube 11 is integrated in a wiper blade 12 so as not to be in contact with the glass in order to prevent any deterioration of the same due to repeated friction.

(9) The rigid tubes 11 are hydraulically connected to a pump 13 for suctioning the liquid with which the rigid tubes come 11 into contact. The suction pump 13 is connected with the rigid tubes 11 by means of special connecting pipes 14 along which at least one turbidity sensor 15 is arranged.

(10) Moreover, at least one filter 16 is interposed along the connecting pipes 14 between the suction pump 13 and the rigid tubes 11, adapted to retain solid impurities present in the suctioned fluid. Filter 16 is arranged upstream of the suction pump 13 with respect to the conveying flow of the liquid collected in order to prevent clogging of the same 13.

(11) The connecting pipes 14 exit into a collection tank 17. In particular, the connecting pipes 14 of rainwater exit into a first chamber 17a of the collection tank 17. The collection tank 17 further comprises a second chamber 17b, separate from the first 17a and connected to the same through a dispenser 22 which can be controlled electronically. A concentrated detergent 52 may for example be introduced in the second chamber 17b which is gradually released into the first chamber 17a so as to keep the dilution of detergent in the washing liquid 51 to a predetermined level. To this end, a concentration sensor 23 is provided in the first chamber 17a of the collection tank 17 which is adapted to determine the degree of dilution of the detergent in the washing liquid 51.

(12) Chambers 17a, 17b of the collection tank 17 are accessible from the outside also by a user in order to add the respective lacking fluids 51, 52, such as if the washing liquid 51 becomes exhausted despite the integration with rainwater, as can happen in a period of great drought.

(13) The first chamber 17a of the collection tank 17 is connected in output in a known manner, to a pump 50 for dispensing the washing fluid 51 on the glass to cleanse.

(14) The first chamber 17a of the collection tank 17 is provided with a level sensor 18 adapted to indicate whether such a first chamber 17a is too full and in that ease prevent the activation of the suction pump 13 and therefore the collection of additional liquid.

(15) Likewise, the level sensor 18 is used to define a minimum level threshold of the liquid contained in the first chamber 17a below which the windscreen washer system 10 is activated to monitor whether the conditions for the collection of rainwater to be added to the first chamber 17a are met.

(16) The windscreen washer system 1 in FIG. 1 further comprises a rain sensor 19 adapted to provide an activation signal of the suction pump 13. Alternatively or additionally, the activation signal of the suction pump 13 is generated following the activation of a control lever of the wiper blade 12 (not shown).

(17) Sensors 15, 18, 19 and 23 of the windscreen washer system 10 are connected to a central processing unit 20 adapted to generate an activation signal to be sent to the suction pump 13 and/or to dispenser 22.

(18) Moreover, the central processing unit 20 is connected in input to a switching on means 21, such as a manual button, for receiving a switching on signal of the windscreen washer system 10, setting it to a condition of standby and monitoring of signals received from the individual sensors 15, 18, 19 and 23 in order to determine the activation of the suction pump 13 and/or of dispenser 22.

(19) A second embodiment shown in FIG. 2 of the windscreen washer system 10′ according to the present invention differs from what already described with references to the embodiment in FIG. 1 as the rainwater collection element 11′ consists of the wiper blades themselves made as a small tube and provided with a plurality of holes 12′.

(20) Moreover, in this second embodiment, the switching on means is replaced by a control lever of the wiper blade (not shown).

(21) The operation of the windscreen washer system 10, 10′ according to the present invention is as follows.

(22) The central processing unit 20 receives a switching on signal imparted through the switching on means 21 and sets to the condition of repeated and/or cyclical monitoring of signals received from sensors 15, 18, 19 and 23 of system 10.

(23) The level sensor 18 provides a signal indicative of the filling level of the collection tank 17. If the level exceeds a first predetermined threshold, the central processing unit 20 does not activate the suction pump 13.

(24) Otherwise, if the filling level is below a second predetermined threshold, which may not be identical to the first threshold, the central processing unit 20 evaluates the signals coming from the additional sensors 15, 19 to impart an activation or deactivation signal to the suction pump 13.

(25) If the rain sensor 19 detects a rain conditions and the control lever of the windscreen wiper is activated, an activation signal of the suction pump 13 is generated.

(26) In particular, the activation signal of the suction pump 13 is generated with a predetermined delay time with respect to the signal coming from the rain sensor 19 and/or from the wiper control lever in order to initiate suction once the initial rain has washed away part of the particles of dirt on the glass.

(27) The liquid suctioned by the suction pump 13 enters into the connecting pipes 14 passing through the rainwater collection element 11 to reach the collection tank 17.

(28) The fluid that flows through the connecting pipes 14 is assessed in terms of turbidity by the corresponding sensors 15 placed at the input of such pipes 14 and a corresponding signal is transmitted to the central processing unit 20. In case of high turbidity, the central processing unit 20 deactivates the suction pump 13 for a predetermined time.

(29) Before reaching and crossing the suction pump 13, the liquid that flows through the connecting pipes 14 is made to pass through filter 16 to retain any solid particles in suspension.

(30) Suction continues until the level of liquid inside the collection tank 17 reaches the first reference threshold of the control lever of the wiper blade is controlled in order to end the action of the wiper blade or, if present, the switching on means 21 imparts a switching off signal.

(31) In addition, the suction is suspended if at least one turbidity sensor 15 detects a condition of excessive turbidity of the suctioned fluid or if the rain sensor 19 does not detect a sufficient amount of rain.

(32) Moreover, the suction is suspended also if during the suction of rainwater, the delivery pump 50 and thus the delivery of the glass washer fluid 51 contained in the first chamber 17a of the collection tank 17 are activated.

(33) The introduction of the suctioned fluid in the collection tank 17 through the windscreen washer system 10 results in a change in the degree of dilution of the fluid present in the first chamber 17a. This is detected by the concentration sensor 23 and reported to the central processing unit 20 which controls the activation of dispenser 22.

(34) Dispenser 22 therefore introduces an amount of concentrated detergent 52 in the first chamber 17a of the collection tank in order to restore the predetermined dilution. The deactivation of dispenser 22 is controlled once the concentration sensor 23 detects that the liquid present in the first chamber 17a of the collection tank 17 has again reached the predetermined degree of dilution.

(35) According to the alternative embodiment in FIG. 2, in which the switching on means 21 is not present, the central processing unit 20 is activated directly by the activation of the control lever of the wiper. Once the activation signal has been received, the central processing unit 20 checks the signal from the rain sensor 19 and from the level sensor 18 and, if necessary, provides an activation command to the suction pump 13 with a predetermined delay as described above.

(36) The features of the windscreen wiper system object of the present invention as well as the relevant advantages are clear from the above description.

(37) Additional variants of the embodiments described above are possible without departing from the teaching of the invention.

(38) Finally, it is clear that several changes and variations may be made to the windscreen wiper system thus conceived, all falling within the invention; moreover, all details can be replaced with technically equivalent elements. In the practice, both the materials used and the sizes can be modified according to the technical requirements.