WO2009112807A1

WO2009112807A1 - Windscreen clearing apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2009112807A1
Application number: PCT/GB2009/000598
Authority: WO
Inventors: Patrick Doherty
Original assignee: Patrick Doherty
Priority date: 2008-03-12
Filing date: 2009-03-03
Publication date: 2009-09-17
Also published as: GB2451534A; GB0804530D0; GB2451534B

Abstract

Windscreen clearing apparatus comprising a reservoir for storing a gas, and a delivery device operatively connected to the reservoir. The delivery device is arranged, in use, to deliver a sequenced plurality of pulsed jets (5, 6, 7) of gas from the reservoir to a surface (8, 9, 10) of the windscreen, such that the sequencing of the plurality of jets pushes water across the windscreen. There is also described a vehicle comprising the windscreen clearing apparatus.

Description

Windscreen Clearing Apparatus

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to the field of windscreen clearing apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Windscreen clearing apparatus is, for the most part, used to clear rain from the windscreen of a vehicle. Windscreens tend to be curved, and so the usual type of windscreen clearing apparatus comprises at least one wiper blade that moves across the windscreen to clear rainwater. This may be used in conjunction with a liquid dispenser for spraying a jet of water and water/surfactant onto the surface for cleaning dirt from the windscreen. Most published patent documents in this field relate to improvements to wiper blades and liquid dispensing apparatus.

However, there are several problems with prior art windscreen clearing systems. These systems require mechanical moving parts that can fail, leaving a driver unable to clear his windscreen in the event of failure. Furthermore, the wiper blades themselves can distract the driver and obscure his view.

It has been proposed that a curtain of air can be passed over a windscreen and used to clear rain. However, problems arise because a great deal of compressed air is required to constantly pass air over the entire surface of the windscreen. A further problem arises with windscreens having a large degree of curvature, as a jet of air will strike it tangentially and may not effectively clear the windscreen.

SUMMARY

The inventor has realised the problems associated with prior art windscreen clearing systems, and devised apparatus to mitigate these problems. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided windscreen clearing apparatus. The apparatus includes a reservoir for storing a gas, and a delivery device operatively connected to the reservoir. The delivery device is arranged, in use, to deliver a sequenced plurality of pulsed jets of gas from the reservoir to a surface of the windscreen, such that different areas of the windscreen are subjected to pulsed jets at different times, thereby progressively pushing water across the windscreen. This ensures that rainwater is cleared from the windscreen. The term windscreen is used herein to refer to any type of glass shield in a vehicle, including but not limited to a single piece windscreen, a portion of a split windscreen, a rear window, or even the cover of a light fitting.

The delivery device may comprise a body and a plurality of nozzles disposed about the body, the plurality of nozzles arranged to deliver pulsed jets of gas sequentially.

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises a processor arranged to control gas flow across the windscreen. This allows the sequence of jets to be altered according to driving conditions. In this case, an option is to provide input means operatively connected to the processor, the input means arranged to provide information to the processor, the information selected from any of vehicle speed, temperature, pressure, external precipitation, and an amount of water on the windscreen, wherein the information is configured to be used to determine a time and strength of sequencing of the pulsed jets of gas.

The plurality of pulsed jets of gas may be arranged into groups of pulsed jets of gas each group of pulsed jets of gas directed to a different portion of the windscreen.

In order to fill the reservoir, the apparatus may further comprise a compressor operatively connected to the reservoir, and arranged, in use, to fill the reservoir with compressed air. The compressor is driven by one of a vehicle engine and an electric motor.

The apparatus optionally further comprises a heater arranged, in use, to heat at least some of the pulsed jets of gas. This is useful when, for example, it is required to de-ice the windscreen.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle comprising at least one windscreen clearing apparatus as described in the first aspect of the invention.

The vehicle windscreen may be substantially flat, and the windscreen clearing apparatus may be disposed substantially adjacent to the windscreen. Alternatively, the vehicle windscreen may be substantially curved.

The windscreen is optionally split into a plurality of parts, each part of the plurality of parts having a windscreen apparatus associated with it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 illustrates a view of a vehicle incorporating the windscreen clearing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a split windscreen incorporating cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to Figure 1 herein, there is illustrated a vehicle 1 having a windscreen split into two parts 2, 3 separated by a central pillar 4. Each windscreen part 2, 3 has a windscreen clearing apparatus disposed in a central pillar 4. The windscreen clearing apparatus passes pulsating jets of compressed air across each windscreen part 2, 3. By splitting the windscreen into two parts 2, 3, each part can be made of a substantially flat glass plate whilst maintaining the aerodynamic properties of the vehicle. Split windscreens are already known, for example in the original Morris Minor, the Chrysler

Airflow and the Bristol 400, the latter two of which were designed as aerodynamic cars. The pulsating jets of compressed air are computer controlled to be always greater than the airflow over the two windscreens. In this embodiment, the central pillar 4 houses the main services duct for air and water to the windscreen cleaning apparatus. The central pillar 4 is sufficiently deep on the exterior portion of the windscreen to allow air to be projected across the full width of the screen as well as close to the pillar. Pulsating and staggered jets of air at high pressure form an invisible 'virtual' wiper that does not need to return to its starting point, and does not obscure the driver's view. The jets are computed to progressively push water from the central pillar 4 to the extreme edges of the windscreen parts 2, 3 at a frequency and in a pattern to match the weather, road conditions and driving speed.

Similarly, there may be provided a top to bottom or bottom to top sequencing of pulsating air jets depending on whether the vehicle is stationary or travelling at speed. The rainwater is always driven from areas of highest intensity to area of lowest intensity away from the driver's field of vision. The frequency and bias of air pulses is computer controlled and based on data from external air pressure sensors around the windscreens combined with engine and gearbox data on the vehicle's speed.

By effectively aiming narrow jets of compressed air over the windscreen, and sequentially firing the jets such that different areas of the windscreen are subjected to the jets at different times, the action of a wiper blade can be is simulated, and more effective windscreen clearing can be effected.

Compressed air for the jets is provided from a reservoir and generated either mechanically from the engine via a compressor or electrically via a compressor independent of the engine.

The windscreen cleaning apparatus may be adapted to deliver water to the windscreen via separate ducts and jets in addition to jets of air.

Turning now to Figure 2, an example of the windscreen clearing apparatus is illustrated in more detail. The windscreen clearing apparatus is disposed in the central pillar 4 and comprises a first, second and third series of nozzles 5, 6 and 7. The nozzles are arranged to fire jets of air onto the first windscreen portion 2 sequentially. For the purpose of describing the invention, the windscreen portion 2 can be considered to be split into a first part 8, a second part 9 and a third part 10, although the windscreen portion 2 is formed from a single substantially flat sheet of glass. The first series of nozzles 5 fires a plurality of jets of air at the first part 8 of the windscreen, driving water from the first part 8 towards the second part 9. The second series of nozzles 6 then fires a plurality of jets of air at the second part 9 of the windscreen, driving water from the second part 9 towards the third part 10. The third series of nozzles 7 then fires a plurality of jets of air at the third part 10 of the windscreen, driving water from the third part 10 of the windscreen towards the edge of the windscreen, where it can be channelled away. It will be appreciated that the series of nozzles 5, 6, 7 are fired sequentially to drive rain away, but the speed of the sequence can be altered depending on driving conditions at the time of use.

Note that the jets of air may include warm air in order to de-mist or de-ice the windscreen. The air may be warmed by a dedicated heater or by heat generated by the vehicle engine.

The invention can be applied to any sort of vehicle that currently uses windscreen wipers. Furthermore, it can be used for flat or curved windscreens that are in a single piece or split into two or more parts. For the best windscreen clearing efficiency it would be applied to a two-part flat glass windscreen. The gas delivery components may be applied at any point around the windscreen to give optimum windscreen clearing properties and it will be appreciated that a plurality of gas clearing components may be disposed around a windscreen to improve windscreen clearing properties. This may be particularly useful for curved one-piece windscreens. It will be appreciated that the lack of moving parts, in contrast to a known wiper arrangement, reduces the risk of a mechanical breakdown of the windscreen clearing apparatus, and obviates any marking or scoring of windscreen glass by worn blades. Furthermore, there is no need to replace worn blades. Although various embodiments have been shown and described in detail, the claims are not limited to any particular embodiment or example. None of the above description should be read as implying that any particular element, step, or function is essential such that it must be included in the claims' scope. The scope of protection is defined by the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Windscreen clearing apparatus comprising: a reservoir for storing a gas a delivery device operatively connected to the reservoir, the delivery device arranged, in use, to deliver a sequenced plurality of pulsed jets of gas from the reservoir to a surface of the windscreen, such that different areas of the windscreen are subjected to pulsed jets at different times, thereby progressively pushing water across the windscreen.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the delivery device comprises a body and a plurality of nozzles disposed about the body, the plurality of nozzles arranged to deliver pulsed jets of gas sequentially.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a processor arranged to control gas flow across the windscreen.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising input means operatively connected to said processor, the input means arranged to provide information to the processor, the information selected from any of vehicle speed, temperature, pressure, external precipitation, and an amount of water on the windscreen, wherein the information is configured to be used to determine a time and strength of sequencing of the pulsed jets of gas.

5. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plurality of pulsed jets of gas are arranged into groups of pulsed jets of gas each group of pulsed jets of gas directed to a different portion of the windscreen.

6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a compressor operatively connected to the reservoir, and arranged, in use, to fill the reservoir with compressed air.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the compressor is driven by one of a vehicle engine and an electric motor.

8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a heater arranged, in use, to heat at least some of the pulsed jets of gas.

9. A vehicle comprising at least one windscreen clearing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the vehicle windscreen is substantially flat, and the windscreen clearing apparatus is disposed substantially adjacent to the windscreen.

11. The vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the vehicle windscreen is substantially curved.

12. The vehicle according to any one of claims 9, 10 or 11 , wherein the windscreen is split into a plurality of parts, each part of the plurality of parts having a windscreen apparatus associated with it.