Patent US5024231A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3624477A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Intermittent control with a normally open thermal switch for windshield wiper system
Assignee: Gulf and Western Systems Co
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Filing: 1969-11-24
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Granted: 1971-11-30
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Expires: 1989-11-24
Abstract
Abstract An intermittent control for a windshield wiper system. One of the two motor terminals is connected to a battery and the second motor terminal is connected to ground through the conventional park switch. In parallel with the park switch is a bimetal element whose contacts are normally open and are closed as a resistance element heats up. The resistance element is connected in series with a potentiometer between the battery and ground. During each wipe cycle, no current flows through the resistance element and potentiometer, the resistance element cools and the bimetal element contacts open. During each dwell period, current flows through the resistance element and the potentiometer to heat the bimetal element. The dwell period is determined by the setting of the potentiometer. It is also possible to automatically vary the dwell period by including a thermistor in series with the resistance element, the thermistor being heated by an additional resistance element connected in the motor circuit. The drier the windshield, the greater the motor current and the higher the temperature of the additional resistance element. The impedance of the thermistor increases with the temperature of the additional resistance element to increase the dwell period.
Inventors
- 👤 Willis E Rieman
- 👤 John J Beck
- 👤 Edward R Betz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 20:35
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S1/00; B60S1/02; B60S1/04; B60S1/06; B60S1/08; B60S1/0803
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
An intermittent control for windshield wiper system comprising a motor for driving windshield wiper blades through a wipe cycle, said motor including two terminals, first means for connecting a first one of said two terminals to a source of a first potential, and second means for connecting the second one of said two terminals to a source of a second potential, said second connecting means including two parallel paths, a first of said paths including a motor park switch and the second of said paths including a bimetal element and a heater resistance element therefor, said bimetal element having normally open contacts and operative to close following a dwell period after each wipe cycle, the opening of said normally open contacts being dependent on the cooling rate of said bimetal element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
An intermittent control for windshield wiper system comprising a motor for driving windshield wiper blades through a wipe cycle, said motor including two terminals, first means for connecting a first one of said two terminals to a source of a first potential, and second means for connecting the second one of said two terminals to a source of a second potential, said second connecting means including two parallel paths, a first of said paths including a motor park switch and the second of said paths including a bimetal element and a heater resistance element therefor, said bimetal element having normally open contacts and operative to close following a dwell period after each wipe cycle, the opening of said normally open contacts being dependent on the cooling rate of said bimetal element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
An intermittent control for a windshield wiper system in accordance with claim 1 further including manually adjustable means for varying the closure time of said bimetal element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
An intermittent control for a windshield wIper system in accordance with claim 2 further including an additional resistance element connected in series with said motor terminals, and a thermistor heat-coupled to said additional resistance element and connected in series with said resistance element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
An intermittent control for a windshield wiper system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said manually adjustable means is a variable resistance connected in series with said heater resistance element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
An intermittent control for a windshield wiper system in accordance with claim 3 further including an additional thermistor heat-coupled to said additional resistance and element connected in series with said motor terminals for controlling the speed of said motor in accordance with the temperature of said additional resistance element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
An intermittent control for a windshield wiper system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said manually adjustable means is a variable resistance connected in series with said heater resistance element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
An intermittent control for a windshield wiper system in accordance with claim 3 further including an additional resistance element connected in series with said motor terminals, and a thermistor heat-coupled to said additional resistance element and connected in series with said heater resistance element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
An intermittent control for a windshield wiper system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said motor park switch is operative to connect said second motor terminal to said source of said second potential when said motor is out of its park position and further including a brake resistance, said motor park switch being further operative to connect said brake resistance across said switch terminals when said motor is in its park position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
An intermittent control for a windshield wiper system in accordance with claim 1 further including switch means having three positions, a first of said positions for deenergizing said motor, the second of said positions for connecting said second motor terminal to said source of said second potential bypassing said second connecting means, and the third of said positions for enabling the operation of said second path connecting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
An intermittent control for a windshield wiper system in accordance with claim 9 further including means operative when said switch means is moved from said first position to said third position for momentarily providing an alternate path from said second motor terminal to said source of said second potential.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
An intermittent control for a windshield wiper system in accordance with claim 1 further including switch means having three positions, a first of said positions for deenergizing said motor, the second of said positions for connecting said second motor terminal to said source of said second potential bypassing said second connecting means, and the third of said positions for enabling the operation of said second path connecting means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
An intermittent control for a windshield wiper system in accordance with claim 11 further including means operative when said switch means is moved from said first position to said third position for momentarily providing an alternate path from said second motor terminal to said source of said second potential.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-29 | 1975-05-31 | 1975-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-29 | 1979-05-31 | 1979-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-29 | 1983-05-31 | 1983-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |