Windscreen washer and wiper control system

Claim 1

A windscreen washer and wiper system for a road vehicle, the system including, an electrically operated windscreen wiper unit, an electrically operated windscreen washer unit for delivering washing liquid to a vehicle windscreen in use, and an electrical control switch, the control switch including, a body, a rotor mounted for rotation in the body, an operating member mounted for axial movement in the body, resilient means urging the operating member to a rest position, a first set of electrical contacts operable by rotation of said rotor and by axial movement of the operating member against the action of said resilient means, means connecting said first set of electrical contacts to said wiper unit, a second set of electrical contacts operable only by axial movement of the operating member against the action of said resilient means, and operable during the movement of the operating member subsequent to the operation of said first set of electrical contacts, means connecting said second set of contacts to said washer unit, and, a pneumatic delay device operable by movement of the operating member against the action of said resilient means and determining the rate at which the operating member is returned to its rest position by said resilient means, when released, the delay device thus determining the periods of operation of said wiper unit and said washer unit after said operating member has been released, and so determine the period of time during which the wiper unit is operative after the washer unit has ceased to operate.