Windshield washer pump assembly

Claim 2

A washer pump assembly for delivering washing fluid for a predetermined time interval to a windshield of a vehicle comprising: a support means, a washer pump supported by said support means and having a movable pumping member for delivering washing fluid under pressure, a drive means including a drive member having an interruptible driving connection with said pumping member and effecting movement of the latter when drivingly connected therewith, and a control mechanism operable to establish a driving connection between said pumping member and said drive member to effect movement of the pumping member for a predetermined time interval and then to automatically interrupt the driving connection therebetween, said control mechanism comprising a ratchet timer means including a toothed ratchet wheel and an annular drum on one side of the ratchet wheel and at least one axially extending through slot in its sidewall thereof, a ratchet pawl which is constantly reciprocated by said drive means and which is biased toward engagement with the ratchet wheel and a control means operatively associated with said ratchet timer means and said ratchet pawl for controlling engagement and disengagement between said ratchet pawl and said ratchet wheel, said control means including a reciprocable plunger means having a normal position in which end portions thereof are disposed within said slot and engage said pawl to hold the same spaced from said ratchet wheel, biasing means for biasing said plunger means toward its normal position, said plunger means being movable to a second position in which its end portions are disposed interiorlY of said annular drum of the ratchet timer means in response to momentary energization of the control means to allow said pawl to engage the ratchet wheel and index the same, and said plunger means being movable by said biasing means to a third position in which at least one end portion thereof rides on the interior annular surface of the drum of the ratchet wheel when the control means is deenergized, said ratchet timer means when indexed through its first indexing movement being effective to establish a driving connection between the pumping member and the drive member, said ratchet timer means being operable to effect a disconnection of the driving connection between the pumping and drive members after a predetermined number of indexing movements of the ratchet wheel has occurred, said plunger means being returnable by said biasing means toward its normal position in which it holds the pawl disengaged from the ratchet wheel when said slot is again in alignment with said plunger means after a predetermined number of indexing movements of the ratchet wheel has occurred.

Claim 3

A washer pump assembly for intermittently delivering washing fluid for a predetermined time interval to a windshield of a vehicle comprising: a support means, a washer pump supported by support means and having a pumping member which is movable in opposite directions through intake and discharge strokes, first spring means for effecting movement of said pumping member through its discharge stroke, a drive means having a lost motion, interruptible driving connection with said pumping member and when drivingly connected with said pumping member alternately effecting movement of the latter through its intake stroke in opposition to the biasing force of said spring means and permitting said spring means to move said pumping member through its discharge stroke, and a control mechanism operable to establish a driving connection between said pumping member and said drive means to effect movement of said pumping member through its intake and discharge strokes for a predetermined number of strokes and then to interrupt the driving connection therebetween, said control mechanism comprising an indexible ratchet cam assembly normally disposed in the stop position in which it is engageable with a means on said pumping member to hold the same against movement through its discharge stroke, said indexible ratchet cam assembly including a ratchet wheel and an annular drum on one side of the ratchet wheel and which has at least one axially extending through slot in its side thereof, a ratchet pawl operatively connected with said drive means and constantly reciprocated thereby, said ratchet pawl also being movable between the first position in which it is spaced from said ratchet wheel and a second position in which it is in engagement with said ratchet wheel for indexing the latter, and a control means for controlling movement of said ratchet pawl between its positions, said control means including a selectively energizable coil, a reciprocable plunger and second spring means for normally biasing said plunger toward a first position in which first and second end portions thereof are respectively disposed within said axially extending slot in said drum and engage said ratchet pawl to hold the same in its first position, said plunger means being movable from its first position in opposition to the biasing force of said second spring means toward a second position in which the second end portion thereof is disposed interiorly of said drum to allow said pawl to be moved toward its second position in engagement with the ratchet wheel to index the latter in response to momentary energization of said coil, said plunger means being movable by said second spring to an intermediate third position in which the first end portion thereof rides on the interior surface of said annular drum when said ratchet wheel has been indexed at least one indexing movement and said coil is deenergized, said indexible ratchet means being disengageAble from said pumping member during the first indexing movement thereof to allow said first spring means to move said pumping member through its discharge stroke and establish a driving connection between the pumping member and the drive means, said indexable ratchet means being reengageable with said pumping member to hold the same against movement after a predetermined number of indexing movements of the ratchet wheel, and said slot in said drum being positioned in alignment with said plunger means to allow the plunger means to move from its third position to its first position to disengage the pawl from the ratchet wheel after a predetermined number of indexing movements of the ratchet wheel.

Claim 4

A washer pump assembly for intermittently delivering washing fluid for a predetermined time interval to a windshield of a vehicle comprising: a support means, a washer pump supported by support means and having a pumping member which is movable in opposite directions through intake and discharge strokes, first spring means for effecting movement of said pumping member through its discharge stroke, a drive means having a lost motion, interruptible driving connection with said pumping member and when drivingly connected with said pumping member alternately effecting movement of the latter through its intake stroke in opposition to the biasing force of said spring means and permitting said spring means to move said pumping member through its discharge stroke, and a control mechanism operable to establish a driving connection between said pumping member and said drive means to effect movement of said pumping member through its intake and discharge strokes for a predetermined number of strokes and then to interrupt the driving connection therebetween, said control mechanism comprising an indexible ratchet cam assembly normally disposed in the stop position in which it is engageable with a means on said pumping member to hold the same against movement through its discharge stroke, said indexible ratchet cam assembly including a ratchet wheel and an annular drum on one side of the ratchet wheel and which has at least one axially extending through slot in its side thereof, a ratchet pawl operatively connected with said drive means and constantly reciprocated thereby, said ratchet pawl also being movable between the first position in which it is spaced from said ratchet wheel and a second position in which it is in engagement with said ratchet wheel for indexing the latter, and a control means for controlling movement of said ratchet pawl between its positions, said control means including a selectively energizable coil, a reciprocable plunger and second spring means for normally biasing said plunger toward a first position in which first and second end portions thereof are respectively disposed within said axially extending slot in said drum and engage said ratchet pawl to hold the same in its first position, said plunger means being movable from its first position in opposition to the biasing force of said second spring means toward a second position in which the second end portion thereof is disposed interiorly of said drum to allow said pawl to be moved toward its second position in engagement with the ratchet wheel to index the latter in response to momentary energization of said coil, said plunger means being movable by said second spring to an intermediate third position in which the first end portion thereof rides on the interior surface of said annular drum when said ratchet wheel has been indexed at least one indexing movement and said coil is deenergized, said indexible ratchet means being disengageAble from said pumping member during the first indexing movement thereof to allow said first spring means to move said pumping member through its discharge stroke and establish a driving connection between the pumping member and the drive means, said indexable ratchet means being reengageable with said pumping member to hold the same against movement after a predetermined number of indexing movements of the ratchet wheel, and said slot in said drum being positioned in alignment with said plunger means to allow the plunger means to move from its third position to its first position to disengage the pawl from the ratchet wheel after a predetermined number of indexing movements of the ratchet wheel.

Claim 5

A washer pump assembly for intermittently delivering washing fluid for a predetermined time interval to the windshield of a vehicle comprising: a support means, a washer pump supported by said support means and having a pumping member which is movable in opposite directions through intake and discharge strokes, spring means for effecting movement of said pumping member through its discharge stroke, drive means having an interruptible driving connection with said pumping member and when drivingly connected with said pumping member alternately effecting movement of the latter through its intake stroke in opposition to the biasing force of said spring means and permitting said spring means to move said pumping member through its discharge stroke, and a control mechanism operable to establish a driving connection between said pumping member and said drive means to effect movement of said pumping member through its full intake and discharge strokes for a predetermined number of strokes and then to abruptly interrupt the driving connection therebetween whereby washing fluid is delivered at substantially the same pressure for each of the discharge strokes and no wastage of washing fluid results, said control mechanism including an indexible ratchet cam assembly including a ratchet wheel and cam normally disposed in a stop position in which it is engageable with a means on the pumping member to hold the same against movement through its discharge stroke, a reciprocable ratchet pawl drivingly connected with said drive means, said ratchet pawl also being movable between a first position in which it is spaced from said ratchet cam assembly and a second position in which it is in engagement with the ratchet cam assembly for indexing the latter, and a control means operatively associated with said ratchet pawl for effecting engagement between said ratchet pawl and said wheel for a predetermined number of indexing movements of the latter and then automatically moving the ratchet pawl to its first position to disengage the same from the ratchet wheel, said ratchet cam assembly permitting said spring means to move said pumping member through its discharge stroke when indexed away from its stop position and interfering with said means on said pumping member when being indexed during its last indexing movement prior to interrupting the driving connection between the pumping member and the drive means, a post carried by said support means for rotatably supporting said indexible ratchet cam assembly, said post including a groove, and yieldable means carried by said ratchet cam assembly and having one end disposed within said groove to retain the ratchet cam assembly on said post and exert a frictional drag force for resisting relative rotation between the post and ratchet cam assembly and its other end extending through an opening in said ratchet wheel to provide a flexible tooth, said flexible tooth yielding to permit relative movement between said ratchet cam assembly and said means on said pumping member when said ratchet cam assembly is being indexed through said last indexing movement to abruptly interrupt the driving connection between the pumping member and said drive means.

Claim 6

A washer pump assembly for intermittently delivering washing fluid for a predetermined time interval to the windshield of a vehicle comprising: a support means, a washer pump supported by said support means and having a pumping member which is movable in opposite directions through intake and discharge strokes, spring means for effecting movement of said pumping member through its discharge stroke, drive means having an interruptible driving connection with said pumping member and when drivingly connected with said pumping member alternately effecting movement of the latter through its intake stroke in opposition to the biasing force of said spring means and permitting said spring means to move said pumping member through its discharge stroke, and a control mechanism operable to establish a driving connection between said pumping member and said drive means to effect movement of said pumping member through its full intake and discharge strokes for a predetermined number of strokes and then to abruptly interrupt the driving connection therebetween whereby washing fluid is delivered at substantially the same pressure for each of the discharge strokes and no wastage of washing fluid results, said control mechanism including an indexible ratchet cam assembly including a ratchet wheel and cam normally disposed in a stop position in which it is engageable with a means on the pumping member to hold the same against movement through its discharge stroke, a reciprocable ratchet pawl drivingly connected with said drive means, said ratchet pawl also being movable between a first position in which it is spaced from said ratchet cam assembly and a second position in which it is in engagement with the ratchet cam assembly for indexing the latter, and a control means operatively associated with said ratchet pawl for effecting engagement between said ratchet pawl and said wheel for a predetermined number of indexing movements of the latter and then automatically moving the ratchet pawl to its first position to disengage the same from the ratchet wheel, said ratchet cam assembly permitting said spring means to move said pumping member through its discharge stroke when indexed away from its stop position and interfering with said means on said pumping member when being indexed during its last indexing movement prior to interrupting the driving connection between the pumping member and the drive means, a post carried by said support means for rotatably supporting said indexible ratchet cam assembly, said post including a groove, and yieldable means carried by said ratchet cam assembly and having one end disposed within said groove to retain the ratchet cam assembly on said post and exert a frictional drag force for resisting relative rotation between the post and ratchet cam assembly and its other end extending through an opening in said ratchet wheel to provide a flexible tooth, said flexible tooth yielding to permit relative movement between said ratchet cam assembly and said means on said pumping member when said ratchet cam assembly is being indexed through said last indexing movement to abruptly interrupt the driving connection between the pumping member and said drive means.

Claim 7

A washer pump assembly as defined in claim 3 where said ratchet cam assembly includes an annular drum portion having An axially extending slot therein and wherein said control means comprises a selectively energizable coil, a plunger and a second spring for biasing said plunger away from said coil toward a first position in which first and second end portions thereof are respectively disposed within said axially extending slot and engage said pawl to hold the latter in its first position, said plunger being retractable to a second position in which said second end portion is disposed interiorly of said annular drum to allow said pawl to engage said ratchet wheel in response to energization of said coil, and said plunger means being movable by said second spring to an intermediate third position upon said ratchet wheel being indexed and in which said second end portion engages the interior surface of the annular drum, said plunger riding on the interior surface of the drum until said first end portion is again in alignment with said axially extending slot whereupon said second spring moves said plunger to reengage said pawl to return the same toward its first position in which it disengages the pawl from the ratchet wheel to stop indexing movement of the ratchet cam assembly.

Claim 8

A washer pump assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said yieldable means is a coiled torsion spring disposed around a pin portion of said ratchet cam assembly.

Claim 9

A windshield cleaning apparatus for cleaning a windshield of an automotive vehicle comprising: a wiper unit including a pair of wipers which are movable across the outer surface of the windshield between inboard and outboard positions and which are parked in the inboard position; a washer unit including a washer pump assembly for intermittently delivering squirts of washer fluid to the windshield for a predetermined number of wiper strokes; and manual control means operable to initiate conjoint operation of the wiper unit and washer unit, said washer pump assembly comprising a support means, a washer pump supported by said support means and having a reciprocable pumping member which is movable in opposite directions through relatively long work and return strokes, spring means for effecting movement of said pumping member through its discharge stroke, a drive means drivingly connected with the wiper unit and including a reciprocable drive member having an interruptible driving connection with the pumping member, and a control mechanism operable to establish a driving connection between said pumping member and said drive member to effect movement of the pumping member for a predetermined number of wiper strokes and then to automatically interrupt the driving connection therebetween, said control mechanism including an indexible ratchet cam assembly normally disposed in the stop position in which it is engageable with a means on the reciprocable pumping member to hold the same against movement through its discharge stroke whereby said pump is held in a charged condition, said ratchet cam assembly including a ratchet wheel, a reciprocable ratchet pawl drivingly connected with said drive member and movable through work and return strokes, and a second control means operatively associated with said ratchet pawl for establishing a drive connection between the ratchet pawl and the ratchet wheel for a predetermined number of wiper strokes and then automatically interrupting the driving connection therebetween, said ratchet wheel having a predetermined number of equally, circumferentially spaced ratchet teeth and being indexible a predetermined angular extent by said ratchet pawl when the latter is moved through its work stroke, said ratchet wheel also having an intermediate tooth between two of the adjacent teeth and said ratchet pawl being disposed adjacent to said intermediate tooth and positioned relative to the ratchet wheel such that it is poised to be moved through its work stroke when both said wiper unit and washer unit are deenergized, said manual control means when actuated to energize both the wiper unit and washer units causing said second control meanS to be energized to allow the ratchet pawl to engage said intermediate tooth of the ratchet wheel to cause the ratchet wheel to be indexed from its stop position to allow the pumping member to be moved through its discharge stroke whereby washer fluid is squirted against the windshield as the wipers are beginning to move from their inboard position toward their outboard position on their first wiper stroke.

Claim 10

A windshield cleaning apparatus for cleaning a windshield of an automotive vehicle comprising: a wiper unit including a pair of wipers which are movable across the outer surface of the windshield between inboard and outboard positions and which are parked in the inboard position; a washer unit including a washer pump assembly for intermittently delivering squirts of washer fluid to the windshield for a predetermined number of wiper strokes; and manual control means operable to initiate conjoint operation of the wiper unit and washer unit, said washer pump assembly comprising a support means, a washer pump supported by said support means and having a reciprocable pumping member which is movable in opposite directions through relatively long work and return strokes, spring means for effecting movement of said pumping member through its discharge stroke, a drive means drivingly connected with the wiper unit and including a reciprocable drive member having an interruptible driving connection with the pumping member, and a control mechanism operable to establish a driving connection between said pumping member and said drive member to effect movement of the pumping member for a predetermined number of wiper strokes and then to automatically interrupt the driving connection therebetween, said control mechanism including an indexible ratchet cam assembly normally disposed in the stop position in which it is engageable with a means on the reciprocable pumping member to hold the same against movement through its discharge stroke whereby said pump is held in a charged condition, said ratchet cam assembly including a ratchet wheel, a reciprocable ratchet pawl drivingly connected with said drive member and movable through work and return strokes, and a second control means operatively associated with said ratchet pawl for establishing a drive connection between the ratchet pawl and the ratchet wheel for a predetermined number of wiper strokes and then automatically interrupting the driving connection therebetween, said ratchet wheel having a predetermined number of equally, circumferentially spaced ratchet teeth and being indexible a predetermined angular extent by said ratchet pawl when the latter is moved through its work stroke, said ratchet wheel also having an intermediate tooth between two of the adjacent teeth and said ratchet pawl being disposed adjacent to said intermediate tooth and positioned relative to the ratchet wheel such that it is poised to be moved through its work stroke when both said wiper unit and washer unit are deenergized, said manual control means when actuated to energize both the wiper unit and washer units causing said second control meanS to be energized to allow the ratchet pawl to engage said intermediate tooth of the ratchet wheel to cause the ratchet wheel to be indexed from its stop position to allow the pumping member to be moved through its discharge stroke whereby washer fluid is squirted against the windshield as the wipers are beginning to move from their inboard position toward their outboard position on their first wiper stroke.

Claim 11

A windshield cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said ratchet cam assembly also includes an annular drum portion having an axially extending slot therein and wherein said control means comprises a selectively energizable coil, a plunger and a second spring for biasing said plunger away from said coil toward a first position in which first and second end portions remote from said coil are respectively disposed within said axially extending slot and engage said pawl to hold the latter disengaged from said ratchet wheel, said plunger being retractable to a second position in which said second end portion is disposed interiorly of said annular drum to allow said pawl to engage said ratchet wheel in response to energization of said coil, and said plunger means being movable by said second spring to an intermediate third position upon said ratchet wheel being indexed and in which said second end portion engages the interior surface of the annular drum, said plunger riding on the interior surface of the drum until said first end portion is again in alignment with said axially extending slot whereupon said second spring moves said plunger to reengage said pawl to move the latter from the ratchet wheel to stop indexing movement of the ratchet cam assembly.

Claim 12

A windshield cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said ratchet cam assembly has a cam for normally holding said pumping member against movement when in its stop position and which interferes with said means on said pumping member when being indexed during its last indexing movement prior to interrupting the driving connection between the pumping member and the drive member, and wherein said washer pump assembly includes a post carried by said support means for rotatably supporting said indexible ratchet cam assembly, said post including a groove, and a torsion spring carried by said ratchet cam assembly and having one end disposed within said groove to retain the ratchet cam assembly on said post and exert a frictional drag for resisting relative rotation between the post and the ratchet cam assembly and its other end extending through an opening in said ratchet wheel to provide a flexible tooth, said flexible tooth yielding to permit relative movement between said ratchet cam assembly and said means on said pumping member when said ratchet cam assembly is being indexed through said last indexing movement to abruptly interrupt the driving connection between the pumping member and said drive means whereby washing fluid is delivered at substantially the same pressure for each of the discharge strokes of the pumping member and substantially no wastage of washing fluid results.

Claim 13

A windshield cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said ratchet wheel has 12 equally spaced teeth and is indexed 15* during its first and second indexing movements when the pawl engages said intermediate tooth and the next following tooth and is indexed 30* each indexing movement thereafter.