US3602790A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Intermittent windshield wiper system
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1967-10-18
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Granted: 1971-08-31
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Expires: 1987-10-18
Abstract
Abstract This specification discloses windshield wiper systems employing three brush DC motors to drive the windshield wipers. When a three brush motor is energized between one pair of its three brushes it operates at a high speed but will produce relatively low torque and when it is energized between another pair of its three brushes it operates at relatively low speed but will produce a relatively high output torque. The windshield wiper systems herein disclosed energize the motor intermittently between the high speed pair of brushes to operate the wiper blades at high speed intermittently. The systems use the low speed pair of brushes to move the wiper blades to the park position when the system is turned off and brake the motor to a stop by shunting the low speed pair of brushes. Some of the systems have the continuous mode of operation in which the motor is energized continuously between the high speed pair of brushes with speed regulation to maintain the a constant speed of operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W Kearns
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 13:12
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S1/00; B60S1/02; B60S1/04; B60S1/06; B60S1/08; B60S1/0803; B60S1/0807
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
365 words
A windshield wiper system for automotive vehicle comprising a DC motor connected to drive at least one windshield wiper blade through wipe cycles on an automotive vehicle windshield, said motor having three brushes positioned so that the greater portion of said armature winding is energized when voltage is applied between a first pair of said brushes than is energized when voltage is applied between a second pair of said brushes so that said motor will run at a higher speed when energized between said second pair of brushes, motor control means having first and second conditions energizing said motor in said first condition between said second pair of brushes to drive said wiper blade through repeated wipe cycles and in said second condition energizing said motor between said first pair of brushes to drive said wiper blade at a low speed to a predetermined park position and to electrodynamically brake said motor to a stop at said park position by closing a circuit between said first pair of brushes ceasing any furtheR wipe cycles while said motor control means is in said second condition, said motor control means in said first condition closing a circuit between said second pair of brushes each time said wiper blade comes into a predetermined region of said wipe cycle to electrodynamically brake said motor with a force less than that applied to said motor by said motor control means in said second condition when said motor is brought to a stop in said park position, said force being sufficient to bring said motor to a stop in said wipe cycle region in which the circuit is closed between said second pair of brushes if said wiper blade is moving relatively slowly as result of wiping over a relatively dry windshield, said motor control means including means operable when said motor control means is in said first condition and said motor is stopped by said braking force in said wipe cycle region to energize said motor after a time delay to start another wipe cycle, and a switch control movable between first and second positions to place said motor control means selectively in said first condition or said second condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
365 words
A windshield wiper system for automotive vehicle comprising a DC motor connected to drive at least one windshield wiper blade through wipe cycles on an automotive vehicle windshield, said motor having three brushes positioned so that the greater portion of said armature winding is energized when voltage is applied between a first pair of said brushes than is energized when voltage is applied between a second pair of said brushes so that said motor will run at a higher speed when energized between said second pair of brushes, motor control means having first and second conditions energizing said motor in said first condition between said second pair of brushes to drive said wiper blade through repeated wipe cycles and in said second condition energizing said motor between said first pair of brushes to drive said wiper blade at a low speed to a predetermined park position and to electrodynamically brake said motor to a stop at said park position by closing a circuit between said first pair of brushes ceasing any furtheR wipe cycles while said motor control means is in said second condition, said motor control means in said first condition closing a circuit between said second pair of brushes each time said wiper blade comes into a predetermined region of said wipe cycle to electrodynamically brake said motor with a force less than that applied to said motor by said motor control means in said second condition when said motor is brought to a stop in said park position, said force being sufficient to bring said motor to a stop in said wipe cycle region in which the circuit is closed between said second pair of brushes if said wiper blade is moving relatively slowly as result of wiping over a relatively dry windshield, said motor control means including means operable when said motor control means is in said first condition and said motor is stopped by said braking force in said wipe cycle region to energize said motor after a time delay to start another wipe cycle, and a switch control movable between first and second positions to place said motor control means selectively in said first condition or said second condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
225 words
A windshield wiper system for automotive vehicles comprising a DC motor connected to drive at least one windshield wiper blade through wipe cycles on an automotive vehicle windshield, said motor having three brushes positioned so that the greater portion of said armature winding is energized when voltage is applied between a first pair of said brushes than is energized when voltage is applied between a second pair of said brushes so that said motor will run at a higher speed when energized between said second pair of brushes, motor control means having first and second conditions energizing said motor intermittently only in said first condition between said second pair of brushes to drive said wiper blade through repeated wipe cycles with a dwell period in which the wiper blades are stopped automatically near a predetermined park position at the end of each wipe cycle and in said second condition energizing said motor between said first pair of brushes to drive said wiper blade at a low speed to said predetermined park position and to stop said motor and said wiper blade at said park position ceasing any further wipe cycles while said motor control means is in said second condition, and a switch control movable between first and second positions to place said motor control means selectively in said first condition or said second condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
225 words
A windshield wiper system for automotive vehicles comprising a DC motor connected to drive at least one windshield wiper blade through wipe cycles on an automotive vehicle windshield, said motor having three brushes positioned so that the greater portion of said armature winding is energized when voltage is applied between a first pair of said brushes than is energized when voltage is applied between a second pair of said brushes so that said motor will run at a higher speed when energized between said second pair of brushes, motor control means having first and second conditions energizing said motor intermittently only in said first condition between said second pair of brushes to drive said wiper blade through repeated wipe cycles with a dwell period in which the wiper blades are stopped automatically near a predetermined park position at the end of each wipe cycle and in said second condition energizing said motor between said first pair of brushes to drive said wiper blade at a low speed to said predetermined park position and to stop said motor and said wiper blade at said park position ceasing any further wipe cycles while said motor control means is in said second condition, and a switch control movable between first and second positions to place said motor control means selectively in said first condition or said second condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A windshield wiper system as recited in claim 2 wherein said motor control means includes means to vary the length of said dwell period.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A windshield wiper system as recited in claim 2 wherein said motor control means includes transistor switch means connected in series with said second pair of brushes, and timing means to render said transistor switch means conductive between said dwell periods and nonconductive during said dwell periods.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A windshield wiper system as recited in claim 4 wherein said timing means includes a capacitor and a circuit for charging said capacitor during said dwell periods to determine the duration of said dwell periods.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
A windshield wiper system as recited in claim 2 wherein said motor control means has a third condition in which said motor control means will energize said motor between said second pair of brushes to drive said motor continuously at a high speed through repeated wipe cycles, said switch control being movable to a third position to place said motor control means in said third condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A windshield wiper system as recited in claim 6 wherein said motor control means includes means to selectively vary the speed of said motor in said third condition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A windshield wiper system as recited in claim 7 wherein said motor control means includes means to regulate the speed of said motor to maintain the speed relatively constant under varying loads in said third condition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
192 words
A windshield wiper system for automotive vehicle comprising a DC motor connected to drive at least one windshield wiper blade through wipe cycles on an automotive vehicle windshield, said motor having three brushes so that the greater portion of said armature winding is energized when voltage is applied between a first pair of said brushes than is energized when voltage is applied between a second pair of said brushes so that said motor will run at a higher speed when energized between said second pair of brushes, motor control means having first and second conditions and energizing said motor between said first pair of brushes in said first condition and energizing said motor between said second pair of brushes in said second condition, said motor control means in only one of said first and second conditions being operable to energize said motor intermittently to drive said wiper blade through repeated wipe cycles with a dwell period occurring automatically at the end of each of said wipe cycles, and a switch control movable between first and second positions to place said motor control means in said first condition or in said second condition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
192 words
A windshield wiper system for automotive vehicle comprising a DC motor connected to drive at least one windshield wiper blade through wipe cycles on an automotive vehicle windshield, said motor having three brushes so that the greater portion of said armature winding is energized when voltage is applied between a first pair of said brushes than is energized when voltage is applied between a second pair of said brushes so that said motor will run at a higher speed when energized between said second pair of brushes, motor control means having first and second conditions and energizing said motor between said first pair of brushes in said first condition and energizing said motor between said second pair of brushes in said second condition, said motor control means in only one of said first and second conditions being operable to energize said motor intermittently to drive said wiper blade through repeated wipe cycles with a dwell period occurring automatically at the end of each of said wipe cycles, and a switch control movable between first and second positions to place said motor control means in said first condition or in said second condition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A windshield wiper system as recited in claim 9 wherein said motor control means electrodynamically brakes said motor to a stop at the start of each of said dwell periods.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A windshield wiper system as recited in claim 9 wherein said motor control means includes means to vary the length of said dwell period.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
68 words
A windshield wiper system as recited in claim 9 wherein said motor control means has a third condition in which said motor control means will energize said motor between said second pair of brushes to drive said motor continuously at a high speed through repeated wipe cycles and wherein said switch control is movable to a third position to place said motor control means in said third condition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
61 words
A windshield wiper system as recited in claim 9 wherein said motor control means comprises a capacitance, a resistance, a circuit connected to vary the charge on said capacitance by current flowing through said resistance during said dwell period, and means responsive to the charge on said capacitor reaching a predetermined level to energize said motor to end said dwell period.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
60 words
A windshield wiper system as recited in claim 13 wherein said means responsive to the charge in said capacitance reaching a predetermined level to energize said motor comprises a solid state electronic valve connected in a circuit to become conductive when said capacitance reaches said predetermined level and means responsive to said electronic valve becoming conductive to energize said motor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
168 words
A windshield wiper system for automotive vehicles comprising a DC motor connected to drive at least one windshield wiper blade through wipe cycles on an automotive vehicle windshield, said motor having three brushes positioned so that the greater portion of said armature winding is energized when voltage is applied between a first pair of said brushes than is energized when voltage is applied between a second pair of said brushes so that said motor will run at a higher speed when it is energized between said second pair of brushes, motor control means for energizing said motor intermittently between one of said pairs of brushes to drive said wiper blade through repeated wipe cycles deenergizing said motor at the end of each of said wipe cycles, said motor control means including means to automatically close a circuit across the other of said pairs of brushes at the end of each of said wipe cycles to electrodynamically brake said motor at the end of each of said wipe cycles.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
168 words
A windshield wiper system for automotive vehicles comprising a DC motor connected to drive at least one windshield wiper blade through wipe cycles on an automotive vehicle windshield, said motor having three brushes positioned so that the greater portion of said armature winding is energized when voltage is applied between a first pair of said brushes than is energized when voltage is applied between a second pair of said brushes so that said motor will run at a higher speed when it is energized between said second pair of brushes, motor control means for energizing said motor intermittently between one of said pairs of brushes to drive said wiper blade through repeated wipe cycles deenergizing said motor at the end of each of said wipe cycles, said motor control means including means to automatically close a circuit across the other of said pairs of brushes at the end of each of said wipe cycles to electrodynamically brake said motor at the end of each of said wipe cycles.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
A windshield wiper system as recited in claim 15 wherein said means to close a circuit across said other of said pairs of brushes electrodynamically brakes said motor to a stop at the end of each wipe cycle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
A windshield wiper system as recited in claim 15 wherein said motor control means energizes said motor intermittently across said second pair of brushes and wherein said braking means closes said circuit across said fiRst pair of brushed to electrodynamically brake said motor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
139 words
A windshield wiper system for automotive vehicles comprising a DC motor connected to drive at least one windshield wiper blade through wipe cycles on an automotive vehicle windshield, said motor having three armature brushes, motor control means to energize said motor between a first pair of said brushes except when said wiper blade is in a predetermined start portion to drive said wiper blade to said start position and to automatically connect a current path across said first pair of brushes to electrodynamically brake said motor when said wiper blade reaches said start position, and means to automatically energize said motor between a second pair of brushes after a dwell period commencing when said motor has been braked to a stop at said start position by said motor control means to drive said motor out of said start position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
139 words
A windshield wiper system for automotive vehicles comprising a DC motor connected to drive at least one windshield wiper blade through wipe cycles on an automotive vehicle windshield, said motor having three armature brushes, motor control means to energize said motor between a first pair of said brushes except when said wiper blade is in a predetermined start portion to drive said wiper blade to said start position and to automatically connect a current path across said first pair of brushes to electrodynamically brake said motor when said wiper blade reaches said start position, and means to automatically energize said motor between a second pair of brushes after a dwell period commencing when said motor has been braked to a stop at said start position by said motor control means to drive said motor out of said start position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
62 words
A windshield wiper system as recited in claim 18 wherein a greater portion of said armature winding is energized when voltage is applied between said second pair of brushes than is energized when voltage is applied between said first pair of brushes so that said motor will run at a higher speed when it is energized between said first pair of brushes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-30 | 1975-03-01 | 1975-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-30 | 1979-03-01 | 1979-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-30 | 1983-03-01 | 1983-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |