Washer pump assembly

Claim 2

A washer pump assembly for intermittently delivering squirts of washer fluid from a predetermined interval to a windshield of an automotive vehicle comprising: a support means; a washer pump supported by said suppprt 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 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, and a control mechanism operable to establish a driving connection between said plunger means and said pawl to effect movement of said plunger means through its strokes for a predetermined number of strokes and then to interrupt the driving connection therebetween, said control mechanism comprising a second spring means for biasing the pawl towards its first position, a selectively energizable control means for effecting movement of the pawl from its first position towards its second position and in opposition to the biasing force of said second spring means, and a timer means for controlling the length of time the pawl is drivingly connected to the pumping member after the pawl has been moved towards its second position upon momentary energization of said control means, said timer means being rotatably supported by said support means adjacent said pawl and including an indexable ratchet wheel which is adapted to be indexed a predetermined angular extent during each second stroke of the pawl when the latter is in its second position, and a retainer means operable to hold said pawl in its second position after said control menas is deenergized unitl the ratchet wheel has been indexed a predetermined angular extent and then effect release of the pawl to allow said second spring means to move said pawl towards its first position in which it is disconnected from said plunger means and does not index the ratchet wheel as it is reciprocated by said drive means.

Claim 3

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; 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 effecting movement of the latter through its intake stroke in opposition to the biasing force of said first spring means and permitting said spring means to move said plunger means through its discharge stroke, said drive means including a drive pawl having a pair of spaced legs which constantly reciprocated through first and second strokes when said drive menas is energized and which is movable between an upper position in which its first leg is not drivingly connected with said plunger means and a second positioN in which it is substantially parallel to the support means and in which its first leg is drivingly connected with said plunger means, and a control mechanism operable to establish a driving connection between said plunger means and said first leg of said pawl to effect movement of said plunger means through its strokes for a predetermined number of strokes and then to automatically and abruptly interrupt the driving connections therebetween, said control mechanism comprising a second spring means for biasing the pawl towards its first position and against a stop surface, a selectively energizable solenoid for effecting movement of the pawl from its first position in opposition to the biasing force of said second spring means towards its second position, and a timer means for controlling the length of time the pawl is drivingly connected to the plunger means after the pawl has been moved towards its second position upon momentary energization of said solenoid, said timer means including an indexable ratchet wheel rotatably supported on a stationary shaft carried by said support means adjacent said second leg of said pawl and which is adapted to be indexed a predetermined angular extent during the second stroke of the pawl when the latter is moved to its second position, a retainer means rotatably supported by said shaft for movement between first and second positions, said retainer means when in its first position having a part thereof in engagement with the second leg of the pawl along its side and with the pawl being slidable therepast when in its first position, said retainer means when in its second position having said part thereof overlying said sides of said pawl to hold the first leg in its second position after the solenoid is de-energized subsequent to being momentarily energized, third spring means for biasing said retainer means towards its second position, said ratchet wheel having means thereon which engage a second part on said retainer means to effect movement of the retainer means from its second position towards its first position in opposition to the biasing force of said third spring means to release said pawl for movement to its first position by said second spring means to interrupt the driving connection between the first leg of the pawl and the plunger means and prevent further indexing movement of the ratchet wheel when the ratchet wheel has been indexed a complete revolution.

Claim 4

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; 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 effecting movement of the latter through its intake stroke in opposition to the biasing force of said first spring means and permitting said spring means to move said plunger means through its discharge stroke, said drive means including a drive pawl having a pair of spaced legs which constantly reciprocated through first and second strokes when said drive menas is energized and which is movable between an upper position in which its first leg is not drivingly connected with said plunger means and a second positioN in which it is substantially parallel to the support means and in which its first leg is drivingly connected with said plunger means, and a control mechanism operable to establish a driving connection between said plunger means and said first leg of said pawl to effect movement of said plunger means through its strokes for a predetermined number of strokes and then to automatically and abruptly interrupt the driving connections therebetween, said control mechanism comprising a second spring means for biasing the pawl towards its first position and against a stop surface, a selectively energizable solenoid for effecting movement of the pawl from its first position in opposition to the biasing force of said second spring means towards its second position, and a timer means for controlling the length of time the pawl is drivingly connected to the plunger means after the pawl has been moved towards its second position upon momentary energization of said solenoid, said timer means including an indexable ratchet wheel rotatably supported on a stationary shaft carried by said support means adjacent said second leg of said pawl and which is adapted to be indexed a predetermined angular extent during the second stroke of the pawl when the latter is moved to its second position, a retainer means rotatably supported by said shaft for movement between first and second positions, said retainer means when in its first position having a part thereof in engagement with the second leg of the pawl along its side and with the pawl being slidable therepast when in its first position, said retainer means when in its second position having said part thereof overlying said sides of said pawl to hold the first leg in its second position after the solenoid is de-energized subsequent to being momentarily energized, third spring means for biasing said retainer means towards its second position, said ratchet wheel having means thereon which engage a second part on said retainer means to effect movement of the retainer means from its second position towards its first position in opposition to the biasing force of said third spring means to release said pawl for movement to its first position by said second spring means to interrupt the driving connection between the first leg of the pawl and the plunger means and prevent further indexing movement of the ratchet wheel when the ratchet wheel has been indexed a complete revolution.

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; 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 effecting movement of the latter through its intake stroke in opposition to the biasing force of said first spring means and permitting said spring means to move said plunger means through discharge stroke, said drive means including a drive pawl having a pair of spaced legs which is constantly reciprocated through first and second strokes when said drive means is energized and which is movable between an upper position in which its first leg is not drivingly connected with said plunger means and a second position in which it is substantially parallel to the support means and in which its first leg is drivingly connected with said plunger means, and a control mechanism operable to establish a driving connection between said plunger means and said first leg of said pawl to effect movement of said plunger means through its strokes for a predetermined number of strokes and then to automatically and abruptly interrupt the driving connections therebetween, said control mechanism comprising A second spring means for biasing the pawl towards its first position and against a stop surface, a selectively energizable solenoid for effecting movement of the pawl from its first position in opposition to the biasing force of said second spring means towards its second position, and a timer means for controlling the length of time the pawl is drivingly connected to the plunger means after the pawl has been moved towards its second position upon momentary energization of said solenoid; said timer means including an indexable ratchet wheel rotatably supported on a shaft carried by said support means and which is adapted to be indexed a predetermined angular extent during the second stroke of the pawl when the latter is moved to its second position, said ratchet wheel having a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth and with one of the teeth extending axially of the shaft a greater height than the remaining teeth, a retainer means rotatably supported by said shaft above said ratchet wheel for movement between first and second positions, said retainer means having a flange provided with a curved peripheral surface, said retainer member when in its first position having the peripheral surface of its flange in engagement with the other leg of the pawl along its side and with the pawl being slidable therepast when in its first position, said retainer means when in its second position having said flange thereof overlying said one leg of said pawl to hold the pawl in its second position after said solenoid is deenergized subsequent to being momentarily energized, third spring means for biasing said retainer member toward its second position, said higher tooth on said ratchet wheel being engageable with a cantilever supported finger on said retainer means to effect rotational movement of the retainer means from its second position towards its first position and thereby release said pawl for movement towards its first position by said second spring means to interrupt the driving connection between the one leg of the pawl and the plunger means and to prevent further indexing of the ratchet wheel when the ratchet wheel has been indexed one complete revolution.

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; 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 effecting movement of the latter through its intake stroke in opposition to the biasing force of said first spring means and permitting said spring means to move said plunger means through discharge stroke, said drive means including a drive pawl having a pair of spaced legs which is constantly reciprocated through first and second strokes when said drive means is energized and which is movable between an upper position in which its first leg is not drivingly connected with said plunger means and a second position in which it is substantially parallel to the support means and in which its first leg is drivingly connected with said plunger means, and a control mechanism operable to establish a driving connection between said plunger means and said first leg of said pawl to effect movement of said plunger means through its strokes for a predetermined number of strokes and then to automatically and abruptly interrupt the driving connections therebetween, said control mechanism comprising A second spring means for biasing the pawl towards its first position and against a stop surface, a selectively energizable solenoid for effecting movement of the pawl from its first position in opposition to the biasing force of said second spring means towards its second position, and a timer means for controlling the length of time the pawl is drivingly connected to the plunger means after the pawl has been moved towards its second position upon momentary energization of said solenoid; said timer means including an indexable ratchet wheel rotatably supported on a shaft carried by said support means and which is adapted to be indexed a predetermined angular extent during the second stroke of the pawl when the latter is moved to its second position, said ratchet wheel having a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth and with one of the teeth extending axially of the shaft a greater height than the remaining teeth, a retainer means rotatably supported by said shaft above said ratchet wheel for movement between first and second positions, said retainer means having a flange provided with a curved peripheral surface, said retainer member when in its first position having the peripheral surface of its flange in engagement with the other leg of the pawl along its side and with the pawl being slidable therepast when in its first position, said retainer means when in its second position having said flange thereof overlying said one leg of said pawl to hold the pawl in its second position after said solenoid is deenergized subsequent to being momentarily energized, third spring means for biasing said retainer member toward its second position, said higher tooth on said ratchet wheel being engageable with a cantilever supported finger on said retainer means to effect rotational movement of the retainer means from its second position towards its first position and thereby release said pawl for movement towards its first position by said second spring means to interrupt the driving connection between the one leg of the pawl and the plunger means and to prevent further indexing of the ratchet wheel when the ratchet wheel has been indexed one complete revolution.

Claim 7

A washer pump assembly for intermittently delivering squirts of washer fluid for a predetermined interval to a windshield 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 plunger means through one of its strokes; a drive means having an interruptible driving connection with said plunger means and when drivingly connected therewith alternately effecting momvement 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, and a control mechanism operable to establish a driving connection between said plunger means and said pawl to effect movement of said plunger means through its strokes for a predetermined number of strokes and then to interrupt the driving connection therebetween, said control mechanism comprising a second spring means for biasing the pawl towards its first position, a selectively energizable control means for effecting movement of the pawl from its first position towards its second position and in opposition to the biasing force of said second spring means, and a timer means for controlling the length of time the pawl is drivingly connected to the pumping member after the pawl has been moved towards its second position Upon momentary energization of said control means, said timer means comprising a hollow annular plastic member rotatably supported on a stationary shaft carried by said support means adjacent said other leg of said pawl, said annular member having a plurality of peripherally spaced ratchet teeth adjacent its lower end with one of the teeth extending axially of the annular member a greater extent than the other ratchet teeth, each of said teeth being on a flexible cantilever arm integral with the annular member adjacent its upper end to allow said teeth to be deflected radially of the annular member, said arms being self-biased to position the teeth in a position in which they will be in a path of movement of said pawl, said annular member also having a retainer means comprising a plurality of radially outwardly extending protrusions at peripherally spaced locations adjacent its upper end, said member having no protrusions at a location immediately adjacent one side of a radial plane passing through said one tooth of said ratchet wheel and having a protrusion carried on a flexible cantilever arm integral with the annular member adjacent its lower end to allow said protrusion to be deflected radially of the annular member, said flexible protrusion being self-biased to a position which is located in the path of movement of said pawl, said pawl when in its first position having a slot therein positioned to receive the flexible protrusion on said annular member, when said control means is momentarily energized said pawl is moved toward its second position to drivingly interconnect said plunger means and said pawl, the pawl as it is moved toward its second position causing the flexible protrusion to be deflected radially inwardly of the annular member and the pawl to engage the ratchet tooth to begin indexing movement the ratchet wheel, when moved through its second stroke, said flexible protrusion overlying said pawl to hold the latter in its second position when said control means is de-energized subsequent to being momentarily energized, said rigid protrusions on the ratchet wheel overlying the pawl to hold the pawl in its second position during subsequent indexing movements of the ratchet wheel, said pawl being movable from its second position towards its first position when the annular member has been indexed to a position at which said location is immediately adjacent said pawl during its next to the last indexing movement, said high tooth of said ratchet wheel being engageable by said pawl during the last indexing movement to position the flexible protrusion within the slot in the pawl.

Claim 8

A washer pump assembly for intermittently delivering squirts of washer fluid for a predetermined interval to a windshield 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 plunger means through one of its strokes; a drive means having an interruptible driving connection with said plunger means and when drivingly connected therewith alternately effecting momvement 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, and a control mechanism operable to establish a driving connection between said plunger means and said pawl to effect movement of said plunger means through its strokes for a predetermined number of strokes and then to interrupt the driving connection therebetween, said control mechanism comprising a second spring means for biasing the pawl towards its first position, a selectively energizable control means for effecting movement of the pawl from its first position towards its second position and in opposition to the biasing force of said second spring means, and a timer means for controlling the length of time the pawl is drivingly connected to the pumping member after the pawl has been moved towards its second position Upon momentary energization of said control means, said timer means comprising a hollow annular plastic member rotatably supported on a stationary shaft carried by said support means adjacent said other leg of said pawl, said annular member having a plurality of peripherally spaced ratchet teeth adjacent its lower end with one of the teeth extending axially of the annular member a greater extent than the other ratchet teeth, each of said teeth being on a flexible cantilever arm integral with the annular member adjacent its upper end to allow said teeth to be deflected radially of the annular member, said arms being self-biased to position the teeth in a position in which they will be in a path of movement of said pawl, said annular member also having a retainer means comprising a plurality of radially outwardly extending protrusions at peripherally spaced locations adjacent its upper end, said member having no protrusions at a location immediately adjacent one side of a radial plane passing through said one tooth of said ratchet wheel and having a protrusion carried on a flexible cantilever arm integral with the annular member adjacent its lower end to allow said protrusion to be deflected radially of the annular member, said flexible protrusion being self-biased to a position which is located in the path of movement of said pawl, said pawl when in its first position having a slot therein positioned to receive the flexible protrusion on said annular member, when said control means is momentarily energized said pawl is moved toward its second position to drivingly interconnect said plunger means and said pawl, the pawl as it is moved toward its second position causing the flexible protrusion to be deflected radially inwardly of the annular member and the pawl to engage the ratchet tooth to begin indexing movement the ratchet wheel, when moved through its second stroke, said flexible protrusion overlying said pawl to hold the latter in its second position when said control means is de-energized subsequent to being momentarily energized, said rigid protrusions on the ratchet wheel overlying the pawl to hold the pawl in its second position during subsequent indexing movements of the ratchet wheel, said pawl being movable from its second position towards its first position when the annular member has been indexed to a position at which said location is immediately adjacent said pawl during its next to the last indexing movement, said high tooth of said ratchet wheel being engageable by said pawl during the last indexing movement to position the flexible protrusion within the slot in the pawl.