The present invention relates to a nozzle assembly for dispensing a fluid onto a substrate. More particularly, the present invention relates to a pivotally adjustable nozzle assembly for consistently dispensing windshield washer fluid on to a designated portion of a vehicle windshield. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a nozzle assembly of the described type, which is constructed and arranged to be automatically angularly adjustable within a defined range of motion, relative to the velocity of passing ambient air.
Within the automotive field, fixed-orifice nozzles are commonly used to dispense windshield washer solvent on to a vehicle's windshield. It has been known to attach a nozzle assembly to the vehicle in a fixed manner in front of the vehicle's windshield, typically on the hood or engine cowl, and to orient the nozzle at a fixed angle to direct washer solvent to a predetermined contact area on the windshield. Some of the known nozzle assemblies may be manually pivotally adjusted while the vehicle is parked, or is otherwise sitting still. Examples of some of the known designs for manually adjustable windshield washer nozzles are given in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,898,036, 3,067,955, and 5,975,431.
When a vehicle is stationary or is traveling at a relatively low speed, a conventional nozzle assembly will generally permit the nozzle to direct washer solvent to the correct predetermined location on the windshield.
However, as the vehicle speed increases, there is a tendency for air to displace the washer fluid stream after it leaves the nozzle, so that the stream may not contact the preferred location on the windshield, but may be displaced to a lower, less beneficial location. At freeway speeds, it becomes difficult or virtually impossible to apply windshield washer fluid using the conventional system, because more often than not, the fluid spray will be redirected by passing air, and will fail to reach a useful area of the windshield. Most experienced drivers are familiar with this situation.
In response to this problem, some attempts have been made to compensate for the displacement of windshield washer solvent from a nozzle assembly at higher speeds.
Some examples of known devices that depict devices addressing this problem are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,403,859; 4,618,096; 5,820,026; 5,965,950; and, 6,082,636, which are discussed further below.
Daansen, U.S. Pat. No. 3,403,859, entitled, “Venturi Washer,” discloses a washer system for dispensing fluid onto a predetermined area of a vehicle's windshield. The Daansen invention encloses a washer fluid nozzle within a venturi for dispensing washing fluid. The venturi is a funnel-like scoop on the vehicle hood that surrounds the nozzle. The venturi is designed to generate a protective channel of air when the vehicle is moving, to move with fluid expelled from the washer nozzle, and to facilitate contact of washer fluid on the vehicle's windshield at a predetermined area, regardless of the vehicle's speed.
Kondo et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,096, entitled, “Window Washer for Vehicle,” discloses a windshield washer system for washing the windshield of a vehicle, which periodically alters the pressure at which the washer fluid is expelled from the spray nozzle. The Kondo et al. invention incorporates a pressurized means in combination with a fluidic oscillator to periodically increase the pressure at which washer fluid exits the washer spray nozzle, in an attempt to counter wind shear experienced when a vehicle is traveling at high speeds.
Raghu, U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,026, entitled, “High-Speed Windshield Washer Nozzle System,” discloses a device which elevates the washer fluid as it travels toward the windshield when a vehicle is traveling at high speeds. The Raghu invention incorporates a concave incline or tab along the top of the nozzle housing to create a vortex between the nozzle and the windshield, which elevates washer fluid after exiting the spray nozzle when the vehicle is traveling at high speeds.
Park, U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,950, entitled, “Device For Controlling The Injection Location Of Washer Solution,” discloses a washer system for dispensing washer fluid to a predetermined location on the windshield of a vehicle traveling at any rate of speed. The Park invention uses an electronic control unit to vary the pressure at which the system dispenses washer fluid, in connection with the rate at which the vehicle is traveling.
Yoshida et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,636, entitled, “Window Washer Nozzle Assembly Having A Favorable Spray Pattern,” discloses a washer nozzle assembly for a vehicle, which dispenses washer liquid at all speed ranges. The Yoshida et al. invention utilizes a nozzle with an upper and lower lip, the upper lip extending further outward than the lower, wherein the upper lip facilitates placement of washer liquid on a predetermined location when the vehicle is traveling at high speeds.
While each of the aforementioned patents provides an apparatus for dispensing washer fluid toward a predetermined location of a vehicle's windshield, a need still exists in the art for an improved fluid-dispensing nozzle assembly.
Ideally, a fluid-dispensing nozzle apparatus would automatically adjust during vehicle operation to change the angle at which the fluid spray is directed, so as to compensate for a change in the surrounding air velocity. Such an adjustable nozzle would provide more consistent placement of washer fluid on the windshield of a vehicle than is available with conventional nozzles.
The present invention has been developed to overcome limitations and disadvantages of the prior art, and to fulfill a need in the art for an improved fluid-dispensing nozzle assembly.
A nozzle assembly, in accordance with the present invention, automatically pivotally adjusts within a defined range of motion, to consistently project a fluid toward a windshield for contact at a designated area thereof, regardless of the velocity of the ambient air. The nozzle assembly hereof is preferred to be passively self-adjusting, that is, to adjust automatically without requiring electric motors or other energy input.
A pivotally adjustable fluid-dispensing nozzle assembly, in accordance with the present invention, includes a support member and a nozzle member which is pivotally attached to the support member. The nozzle member is provided with an air engaging surface, to enable air moving therepast to pivotally move the nozzle member, once the passing air achieves a predetermined flow rate.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a nozzle member for use with a fluid supply system in dispensing fluid onto the windshield of a vehicle. The nozzle member includes a housing having a hollow passage defined therein, the housing including a projection surface having a nozzle with an outlet formed therein, the outlet being in fluid communication with the passage. The passage serves as a fluid connection through which a fluid travels prior to leaving the housing via the nozzle. The nozzle dispenses washer fluid outwardly in a fluid stream, which is directed towards a predetermined area of the windshield.
It is another object of the invention to provide a nozzle assembly which is passively pivotally adjustable during vehicle operation.
It is still another object of the invention to provide a nozzle apparatus including a nozzle member pivotally attached to a support member. The pivotal relationship between the nozzle member and the support member permits the nozzle member to pivotally adjust the angle at which fluid is distributed from the projection surface to the substrate. Direct pivotal contact occurs through the operative engagement between the support arm or arms of the support member and the housing of the nozzle member.
It is still another object of the invention to provide a nozzle member with a nozzle thereon, the nozzle member also including a wind-engaging surface for contacting passing air to allow for pivotal elevation thereof.
Other objects, advantages and salient features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description which, in conjunction with the annexed drawings, disclose the presently preferred embodiments of the invention.
The present invention, in its broadest sense, includes a support member and a nozzle member pivotally attached to the support member, in which the nozzle member is passively pivotally movable by air moving therepast.
Referring to
Reference will therefore be made herein to effective wind moving past the apparatus 10, which is intended to mean relative subjective air speed, caused by forward movement of the vehicle 100, and as experienced at the apparatus.
Throughout the following description, the terms “front” and “rear” are used with reference to the orientation of the apparatus 10 in an installed position on a vehicle, as shown in
The fluid-dispensing apparatus 10 is provided for dispensing windshield washer fluid outwardly therefrom, in a fluid stream, towards a vehicle's windshield 101. The apparatus 10 generally includes a support member 12 for affixing to a vehicle 100, and a nozzle member 15 which is pivotally attached to the support member 12.
Specifically referring to
As shown in
A fluid transfer conduit 19 is also provided, extending between the base 20 and the nozzle member 15, to supply fluid to the nozzle member. The fluid transfer conduit 19 must be formed from flexible material, such as pressure-resistant tubing, because it is required to flexibly move when the nozzle member 15 moves, as will be further described.
The base 20 may have a hole formed therethrough to allow fluid communication between the supply conduit and the transfer conduit.
Alternatively, the fluid supply conduit 18 and the transfer conduit 19 may be combined into a single piece of tubing.
As still another alternative structure, the fluid transfer conduit may be formed as an internal channel (not shown) incorporated within an area of the support member 12, e.g. within a support arm such as the support arm shown at 22.
The support member 12 also includes the base 20, which is used to secure the apparatus 10 to the body of a vehicle 100. The base 20 operates as the floor of the support member 12, and attaches to the vehicle surface through the use of conventional fasteners such as screws, rivets or nuts and bolts, or by adhesives such as epoxy or other known adhesives.
The support arms 22, 24 are provided to pivotally support the nozzle member 15 thereon. The support arms 22, 24 are substantially parallel spaced-apart members which extend upwardly from the base 20. In the embodiment of
As shown in
Optionally, the support member 12 may further incorporate one or more rest stops 25 extending inwardly within the support arms, which are provided to maintain the desired resting orientation of the nozzle member 15. The resting orientation of the nozzle member 15, shown in
Alternative embodiments of the apparatus may reduce the number of rest stops to one, or may replace it with a post (not shown), extending upwardly from the base 20. Further alternative embodiments of the support arms may remove the rest stops entirely, and achieve the desired resting angle of the nozzle member by a different method, such as re-shaping a section of the nozzle member to rest on the base 20, or using the fluid transfer conduit 19 to restrict downward movement of the nozzle member.
As seen in
In the embodiment of
The nozzle member 15 is pivotally attached to the support member 12 by way of any appropriate pivotal connection between the support arms 22, 24 and the housing 17 of the nozzle member 15. Non-limitative examples of suitable connections between the support arms 22, 24 and nozzle member 15 include pins 27 (
The nozzle member 15 is constructed of material in kind to that of the support member. Preferably, the nozzle member 15 is formed from metal or from a strong plastic. The nozzle member 15 includes a housing 17 having a lower, wind-engaging surface 26 and having a projection surface 31 at the rearward-facing end thereof to support a nozzle 30. The housing 17 has a hollow passage 28 formed therethrough (
The nozzle member also includes a nozzle 30, attached to the housing 17 at the projection surface 31, and having an outlet 32 formed therethrough. The nozzle outlet 32 is in fluid communication with the passage 28 of the housing 17. The nozzle 30 may be made removable and replaceable, if desired.
As shown in
As the vehicle 100 moves forward through the air, an effective wind W is experienced moving towards the front of the apparatus 10 (corresponding to the front of the vehicle), as shown by the arrow in
When the nozzle member is in the raised orientation of
This is a clear improvement over a single, fixed orientation of the nozzle member 15, even where such single fixed orientation is manually pivotally adjustable when the car is parked. Also, since the movement of the nozzle member is caused automatically by the air passing therepast, it can be described as a passive adjustment which does not require significant energy input.
The projection surface 31, as shown in
Referring now to
Referring now to
The apparatus 410 of the fourth embodiment is modified from the apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment, in that the projection surface has been modified and enlarged to form an air dam 411. The air dam 411 is wider than the rest of the housing 417 and is substantially concavely fan-shaped, as shown. The air dam 411 extends downwardly towards the base 420 at the rear of the apparatus 410, and is added to the housing 417 to provide an enlarged surface to provide wind resistance, and thereby contribute to upward pivotal movement of the nozzle 430 when the effective wind W at the apparatus 410 exceeds a predetermined limit.
Referring now to
The apparatus 510 of the fifth embodiment is modified from the apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment, in that the forward-facing end of the housing 517 has been modified and enlarged to form an air dam 511. The air dam 511 is wider than the rest of the housing 517 and is substantially concavely fan-shaped, as shown. The air dam 511 extends downwardly towards the base 520 at the front of the apparatus 510, and is added to the housing 517 to provide an enlarged surface to provide increased wind resistance, and thereby contribute to the front end of the housing 517 moving downwardly when the effective wind W at the apparatus 510 exceeds a predetermined limit. Downward movement of the air dam 511, at the front of the housing 517, results in upward pivotal movement of the nozzle 530. The apparatus 510 in this embodiment also includes a relatively weak spring 505 located between the tip of the air dam 511 and the base 520, as shown. This spring 505 acts as in a manner similar to the rest stop of the first embodiment, in that it dictates the resting position of the housing 517. When the effective wind W at the apparatus 510 exceeds a predetermined level, the downward force on the air dam 511 exerted by the wind exceeds the force of the spring 505, and the spring is then compressed. The compressed spring 505 and the base 520 cooperate to define an upper limit stop member to limit upward pivotal movement of the nozzle 530.
Although the present invention has been described herein with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, the foregoing description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art will realize that many modifications of the preferred embodiment could be made which would be operable. For instance, the fluid feed conduit 18 and transfer conduit 19 could both be entirely eliminated from the structure of the first embodiment, and a thin-walled tubular metal sleeve could be pressed into the housing channel 28, and used together with a fluid feed tube from a washer fluid supply system (not shown) to feed washer fluid to the apparatus. Many other modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. All such modifications, which are within the scope of the appended claims, are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the present invention.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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2988287 | Sherman | Jun 1961 | A |
3782637 | Crumpacker | Jan 1974 | A |
4204643 | Cornelius | May 1980 | A |
5820026 | Raghu | Oct 1998 | A |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20040195366 A1 | Oct 2004 | US |