Windshield washer pump assembly

Claim 2

A washer pump assembly for squirting washer fluid against different glass surface portions of an automotive vehicle comprising: a support means; a washer pump supported by said support means and having a plunger means which is reciprocable through intake and discharge strokes; first spring means for effecting movement of said pumping members through one of its strokes; a drive means having an interruptible driving connection with said plunger means and when drivingly connected therewith alternately effecting movement of the plunger means through its other stroke in opposition to the biasing force of said first spring means and permitting said spring means to move said plunger means through said one stroke; said drive means including a drive pawl which is constantly reciprocated through first and second strokes when said drive means is energized and which is movable between a first position in which it is not drivingly connected with said plunger means and a second position in which it is drivingly connected with said plunger means to reciprocate the same, and a control mechanism which is selectively operable to provide either a demand wash cycle during which the pawl is drivingly connected with the plunger means so long as the operator desires or a programmed wash cycle during which the pawl is drivingly connected with the plunger means for a predetermined interval and then automatically disconnected therefrom, said control mechanism including a first selectively energizable means for moving the pawl from its first position towards its second position to effect the driving connection between the pawl and plunger, a second control means including a ratchet timer movable between a first position in which it is not indexed by said pawl when the latter is in its second position and a second position in which it holds the pawl in its second position and is indexed by said pawl, spring means for biasing said ratchet timer toward said second positions, retention means for normally holding said ratchet timer in its first position, and a manually manipulatable control means which can be selectively operated to effect energization of said first means to drivingly connect said pawl with the plunger means and to effect retention of said second means in its first position when a demand wash cycle of operation is desired and to effect energization of said first means to drivingly connect the pawl with the plunger and to allow said spring means to move said ratchet timer toward its second position when a programmed wash cycle of operation is desired.

Claim 3

A washer pump assembly for intermittently delivering squirts of washer fluid for a predetermined time interval to different glass surface areas of a windshield or an automotive vehicle comprising: a support means; a washer pump supported by said support means and having a plunger means which is reciprocable through intake and discharge strokes, first spring means for effecting movement of plunger means through its discharge stroke, a drive means having an interruptible driving connection with said plunger means and when drivingly connected with said plunger means alternately effective movement of the latter through its intake stroke in opposition to the biasing force of said first spring means and for permitting said first spring means to move said plunger means throUgh its discharge stroke, said drive means including a drive pawl which is constantly reciprocated through first and second strokes when said drive means is energized and which is movable between a first position in which it is not drivingly connected with said plunger means and a second position in which it is drivingly connected with said plunger means, and a control mechanism which is selectively operable to provide either a demand wash cycle during which the pawl is drivingly connected with the plunger means so long as the operator desires or a programmed wash cycle during which the drive pawl is drivingly connected with the plunger means for a predetermined time interval and then automatically disconnected, said control mechanism including a first selectively energizable means for moving the pawl from its first position towards the second position to effect a driving connection between the pawl and the plunger means, second means including a lever means which is pivotally connected adjacent one end to said support means, a ratchet wheel timer rotatably supported by the lever means adjacent its other end, spring means for biasing said lever means and ratchet timer toward a first position in which it holds the pawl in its second position, after the latter has been moved thereto, and in which the ratchet wheel timer is indexed by said pawl when moved through its second stroke, selectively energizable retainer means for normally holding said lever means and ratchet timer in a second position in opposition to the biasing force of said spring means in which it does not hold the pawl in its second position and is not indexed by the pawl, and manually manipulatable control means which can be selectively operated for effecting energization of just said first means when a demand wash cycle of operation is desired and for effecting energization of both said first means and said selectively energizable retention means when a programmed wash cycle of operation is desired, said spring means moving said ratchet wheel and lever means towards its first position when said retainer means is momentarily energized and then de-energized to hold the pawl in its second position and to effect indexing movement of the ratchet wheel.

Claim 4

A washer pump assembly for intermittently delivering squirts of washer fluid for a predetermined time interval to different glass surface areas of a windshield or an automotive vehicle comprising: a support means; a washer pump supported by said support means and having a plunger means which is reciprocable through intake and discharge strokes, first spring means for effecting movement of plunger means through its discharge stroke, a drive means having an interruptible driving connection with said plunger means and when drivingly connected with said plunger means alternately effective movement of the latter through its intake stroke in opposition to the biasing force of said first spring means and for permitting said first spring means to move said plunger means throUgh its discharge stroke, said drive means including a drive pawl which is constantly reciprocated through first and second strokes when said drive means is energized and which is movable between a first position in which it is not drivingly connected with said plunger means and a second position in which it is drivingly connected with said plunger means, and a control mechanism which is selectively operable to provide either a demand wash cycle during which the pawl is drivingly connected with the plunger means so long as the operator desires or a programmed wash cycle during which the drive pawl is drivingly connected with the plunger means for a predetermined time interval and then automatically disconnected, said control mechanism including a first selectively energizable means for moving the pawl from its first position towards the second position to effect a driving connection between the pawl and the plunger means, second means including a lever means which is pivotally connected adjacent one end to said support means, a ratchet wheel timer rotatably supported by the lever means adjacent its other end, spring means for biasing said lever means and ratchet timer toward a first position in which it holds the pawl in its second position, after the latter has been moved thereto, and in which the ratchet wheel timer is indexed by said pawl when moved through its second stroke, selectively energizable retainer means for normally holding said lever means and ratchet timer in a second position in opposition to the biasing force of said spring means in which it does not hold the pawl in its second position and is not indexed by the pawl, and manually manipulatable control means which can be selectively operated for effecting energization of just said first means when a demand wash cycle of operation is desired and for effecting energization of both said first means and said selectively energizable retention means when a programmed wash cycle of operation is desired, said spring means moving said ratchet wheel and lever means towards its first position when said retainer means is momentarily energized and then de-energized to hold the pawl in its second position and to effect indexing movement of the ratchet wheel.

Claim 5

A washer pump assembly for intermittently delivering squirts of washer fluid for a predetermined time interval to a windshield of an automotive vehicle comprising: a support means; washer pump supported by said support means and having a plunger means which is reciprocable through intake and discharge strokes, first spring means for effecting movement of said plunger means through its discharge stroke, a drive means having an interruptible driving connection with said plunger means and when drivingly connected with said plunger means alternately effecting movement of the latter through its intake stroke in opposition to the biasing force of said spring means and for permitting said spring means to move said plunger means through its discharge stroke, said drive means including a drive pawl which is constantly reciprocated through first and second strokes when said drive means is energized and which is movable between a first position in which it is not drivingly connected with said plunger means and a second position in which it is drivingly connected with said plunger means, second spring means for biasing said pawl toward its first position, and a control mechanism which is selectively operable to provide either a demand wash cycle during which the pawl is drivingly connected with the plunger means so long as the operator desires, or a programmed wash cycle during which the drive pawl is drivingly connected with said plunger means for a predetermined time interval and then automatically disconnected, said control mechanism comprising first solenoid means for moving said pawl from its first position towards its second position to effect a driving connection between the pawl and the plunger means, a lever means includiNg a substantially rigid lever and a second flexible lever pivotally supported by a shaft carried by the support means, a ratchet timer rotatably supported by said flexible lever, said lever means being movable between a first position in which said ratchet timer is not disposed within the path of movement of said drive pawl and a second position in which said ratchet timer is disposed within the path of movement of said drive pawl, spring means for normally biasing said lever means toward its second position, and retainer means including a frame, a spring biased armature for normally clamping said first lever against said frame to hold said lever means in its first position and a second solenoid operable to move the armature to release the clamping engagement between said first lever and said frame, and control means including a first switch which is selectively operable to energize only the first solenoid means for moving the pawl from its first position toward its second position to effect the demand cycle of operation for the washer unit, and a second momentary switch which is operable, when moved to a closed position, to energize both said first and second solenoid means to cause the pawl to be moved from its first position towards its second position to effect a driving connection between the pump rod and the pump plunger as well as allow the spring to move the lever means toward its second position in which the ratchet timer is disposed within the path of movement of the pawl and in which the first lever overlies the pawl to hold the pawl in its second position after said switch is moved toward its open position to effect de-energization of said first and second solenoid means, and cooperable cam means on said ratchet wheel and said first lever to effect movement of said lever from its second position toward its first position in which it is retained by the retainer means while the ratchet wheel remains stationary due to the flexing of the second lever until the cams clear each other to allow the self-biasing forces of the second lever to move the ratchet wheel to its second position during the last indexing movement of the ratchet wheel to complete one revolution thereof to end the programmed wash cycle, the pawl being released by said first lever when moved toward its first position to allow said second spring means to move said pawl towards its first position to interrupt the driving conection between the pawl and plunger means.

Claim 6

A washer pump assembly for intermittently delivering squirts of washer fluid for a predetermined time interval to a windshield of an automotive vehicle comprising: a support means; washer pump supported by said support means and having a plunger means which is reciprocable through intake and discharge strokes, first spring means for effecting movement of said plunger means through its discharge stroke, a drive means having an interruptible driving connection with said plunger means and when drivingly connected with said plunger means alternately effecting movement of the latter through its intake stroke in opposition to the biasing force of said spring means and for permitting said spring means to move said plunger means through its discharge stroke, said drive means including a drive pawl which is constantly reciprocated through first and second strokes when said drive means is energized and which is movable between a first position in which it is not drivingly connected with said plunger means and a second position in which it is drivingly connected with said plunger means, second spring means for biasing said pawl toward its first position, and a control mechanism which is selectively operable to provide either a demand wash cycle during which the pawl is drivingly connected with the plunger means so long as the operator desires, or a programmed wash cycle during which the drive pawl is drivingly connected with said plunger means for a predetermined time interval and then automatically disconnected, said control mechanism comprising first solenoid means for moving said pawl from its first position towards its second position to effect a driving connection between the pawl and the plunger means, a lever means includiNg a substantially rigid lever and a second flexible lever pivotally supported by a shaft carried by the support means, a ratchet timer rotatably supported by said flexible lever, said lever means being movable between a first position in which said ratchet timer is not disposed within the path of movement of said drive pawl and a second position in which said ratchet timer is disposed within the path of movement of said drive pawl, spring means for normally biasing said lever means toward its second position, and retainer means including a frame, a spring biased armature for normally clamping said first lever against said frame to hold said lever means in its first position and a second solenoid operable to move the armature to release the clamping engagement between said first lever and said frame, and control means including a first switch which is selectively operable to energize only the first solenoid means for moving the pawl from its first position toward its second position to effect the demand cycle of operation for the washer unit, and a second momentary switch which is operable, when moved to a closed position, to energize both said first and second solenoid means to cause the pawl to be moved from its first position towards its second position to effect a driving connection between the pump rod and the pump plunger as well as allow the spring to move the lever means toward its second position in which the ratchet timer is disposed within the path of movement of the pawl and in which the first lever overlies the pawl to hold the pawl in its second position after said switch is moved toward its open position to effect de-energization of said first and second solenoid means, and cooperable cam means on said ratchet wheel and said first lever to effect movement of said lever from its second position toward its first position in which it is retained by the retainer means while the ratchet wheel remains stationary due to the flexing of the second lever until the cams clear each other to allow the self-biasing forces of the second lever to move the ratchet wheel to its second position during the last indexing movement of the ratchet wheel to complete one revolution thereof to end the programmed wash cycle, the pawl being released by said first lever when moved toward its first position to allow said second spring means to move said pawl towards its first position to interrupt the driving conection between the pawl and plunger means.