Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2~39933
DESCRIPTIO~l OF TflE PRIOR ART
Side mounted rear view mirrors are extensively used on
trucks and the like and an unrestricted view in such mirrors is
essential for safe operation however, rain, calcium, snow and the
like inhibit such unrestricted view. Various wiper arrangements
for rear view mirrors have been proposed including the use of a
laterally moveable wiper blade in conjunction with a side-mounted
rear view mirror which moves in a oscillating reciprocating
linear movement. However to the best of the present applicants
knowledge, such wiper devices have been actuated with cumbersome
drive motors and complicated linkages which are expensive to
manufacture and excessive in weight.
Since these side mounted rear view mirrors are extensively
in use it is desirable to have a wiper device easily adapted and
mounted to these mirrors. It is further desirable to have said
device as lightweight a~ possible as not to add undesired weight
and strain to mirror supports. It furthermore should take
advantage of the vehicles fluid pressure, such as compressed air,
to power said wiper device not in an oscillating linear movement
but more effectively in a two stroke per cycle reciprocating
linear movement. Due to the fact that the reflective surface of
the mirror assembly does not face the direct air flow when the
vehicle is in motion. It should further be cost effectlve to
manufacture, simple in design, ease of assembly and reliable in
operation.
Summarv of the invention
According to the invention, in its broader aspects and
forming a primary objective thereof, a fluid pressure operated
rear view mirror wiping device, of the such that may utilize its
structural components for the support of the means to work
reciprocating movement of the such re~uired to wipe a reflective
surface of the such as rear view mirrors used on trucks and the
like.
Another objective of the invention is to provide said
invention with means to be adjustable and mountable to all
conventional mirrors already installed and widely in use.
2 ~ 3 3
A further objective of the invention, in the inventors
opinion, that unlike the wind shield the mirror would not require
an oscillating reciprocating movement to clean the reflective
surface but rather a two stroke, per cycle, reciprocating
movement. Said cycle will become more apparent.
A more particular objective of the invention is to provide a
fluid pressure operated, such as compressed air, rear view mirror
wiping device such as contained in a stationary cylinder housing
connected by means to the mirror housing, said cylinder housing
containing a piston, having a piston rod slidably and sealed by
means through one end of the cylinder head. Fluid supply means
lead into the cylinder heads to provide fluid pressure to fluid
drive surfaces between the piston and the cylinder housing. The
piston having opposite fluid drive surfaces for driving said
piston in a reciprocating cycle. Valve means control the
reciprocating movement when arranged and connected by means to
fluid pressure (such as in a trucks compressed air means) said
valve normally in an open position supplies fluid pressure to the
head & cylinder which drives the piston to the retracted, resting
or off position. When said valve means are actuated, fluid
pressure in the pressured side of the cylinder exhaust through
the valve means and the supply fluid pressure is introduced to
the opposite piston drive surfaces to drive said piston, piston
rod, wiper arm and wiper arm means to the full extension or
length of stroke. When valve means are returned to the
original, resting or off position thus exhausting fluid pressure
through the valve means and introducing fluid pressure to the
opposite cylinder head and drive surfaces to drive said piston,
piston rod, wiper arm, wiper arm means and wiper blade to the
full retracted, resting or off position.
In carrying out these objectives the mechanism is simple in
design, inexpensive to manufacture, reliable and rugged in
operation.
The invention will be better understood and additional
objectives and advantages will become apparent from the following
description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
2 ~ 3 ~
BRIEF D~SCRIPTIO~ OF TEIE DRAWI~Sig. 1 is a front, perspective view showing the improvecl wiper
assembly of the invention illustrating partial movement
of a stroke, in a cycleig. 2 is a sectional side view illustrating configuration and
possible mounting o~ this deviceig. 3 is a rear view showing an attachable means, fluid
pressure conduit means and operation of one full cycleig. 4 is a front sectional view of the wiper, wiper arm,
wiper arm housing, as slidably by means on cylinder tie
rods which are the support from the spring action
partially through a strokeig. 5 is a partially exploded front view of a multiple
configuration of the cylinder head, sealing means,
piston xod connection means to wiper arm housing meansig. 6 is a view of preferred valve means as utilized, in this
example, to retract the fluid pressure operated rear
view mirror wiping device in retracted, resting or off
positionig. 7 is a view of preferred valve means as utilized in said
wiping device in extended or stroke position.
2~3~933
DETAILE:D D13S~RIPTIO~ OF 1~ PR~E ERR~3D EMBODI~D3NT
Referring now to the figures of the drawings a rear view
mirror assembly 65 is shown comprising a mirror having a front,
reflective surface 66 mounted in a mounting frame 67 having rear
side 94. Mirror assembly ~5 is pivotally mounted by means 3 on
the bottom and 11 on the top on brackets 47 adapted to mount the
mirror assembly 65 on either side of a vehicle in conventional
fashion.
Wiper blade 1 is maintained in wiping engagement with
surface 66 and is moved laterally across said surface by
actuating mechanism 29 comprising one or more cylinders 41
mounted by means 3 or 11 (mounting on means 11 are illustrated)
to mirror housing 65 as shown in figure 2. Cylinder 41
containing a piston (not shown) having opposite fluid drive
surfaces and piston rod 22 slidably through split cylinder head
99, (the split head is a preferred means for ease of machining of
seal and bearing seat means, moreover for ease of assembly and
cost effectiveness) said piston rod suitably sealed by means 10
Fig. 5 and housed in cylinder head 81 in seat 11. Means such as
tie rods 8 & 9 extend along the entire length of cylinder 41 and
slidably through wiper arm housing 12. Cylinder 41 is thus
sealed by means between cylinder head 81 and 90 and fastened by
means which will enable cylinder head 90, cylinder 41, cylinder
heads 81 and 99 to be tightened and suitably pulled together.
Piston rod 22 is connected by means to element union 76 which is
secured by means to control rods 4 and 5 which are connected by
means to wiper arm housing 12. Wiper arm housing 12 Fig. 2
comprising of means, such as fitted slot, to house
wiper arm 2 which is fastened by means 6 to be pivotal in
said housing. Comprising also spring means 83 to distribute
working pressure to wiper arm 2. Spring pressure adjustment may
be incorporated in said housing by means such as a threaded
fastener 24. Wiper arm 2 may extent the full length of mirror
face 66 to stabilize and maintain wiper blade 1 in a vertical
position. Means 17 connect wiper blade 1 to wiper arm 2.
Cylinder head 90, cylinder head 81 and or 99 are fastened by
means to bracket means 35 Fig. 2 which is fastened to bracket 34
2 ~ 3 3
Fig. 2 & 3. Said bracket having elongated slots or the like at
location 73 Fig. 3 and 72 Fig. 2 to allow adjustable mounting to
varying mirror housing configurations. Bracket extension 25 Fig.
1 & 2 has two purposes, one such purpose being a means of
locating the fluid pressure operated mirror wiping device to
mirror mounting frame 67 to assure proper spacing of wiper arm 2
and wiper 1 from said frame 67 and reflective surface 66. The
second said purpose being a means of maintaining parallism with
reflective surface 66 throughout stroke cycle 52 & 29 Fig. 1.
Conduit 15 & 16 Fig. 3 are coupled to cylinder heads by means and
appropriate apertures in said heads 90 & 81 Fig. 1 and Fig. 2
which extend into cylinder 41. Valve means such as a spring
return four way valve Fig. 6 is connected to fluid supply
pressure 14 and coupled to cylinder heads 81 & 90 Fig. 1 & 3.
Fig. 6 being valve means in the off position. Fig. 7 being valve
means in the actuated position.
It is therefore understood that a fluid pressure supply from
vehicles compressed air is coupled by conduit 14 and means is
introduced to valve meansl said valve being in an open position
for fluid pressure to flow into conduit 15 supplying through the
aperture of cylinder head 81 Fig. 1 which drives the piston (not
shown), piston rod 22, element union 76 fastened by means to
control rods 4 & 5 connected by means to wiper arm housing 12,
connected by means to wiper arm 2 connected to wiper 1 retaining
said in a retracted resting or off position. To complete the
first stroke in a two stroke cycle valve regulation means 56 when
actuated in movement 49 supply fluid pressure 14 is rerouted to
conduit 16 and introduced through the aperture of cylinder head
90 Fig. 1 & 3 and drives the piston, piston rod 22 to the
extended position pulling wiper arm housing 12 slidably along tie
rods 8 & 9 Fig. 4 by element union means 76 and control rods 4 &
5. The length of extension may be adjusted by the length of
rubber bumper means or the like 21 Fig. 1 which may surround tie
rods 8 & 9 preventing wiper arm housing 12 to travel to the
extreme length of the available stroke. Fluid pressure is
exhausted through conduit 15 and through exhaust port 91. Thus
moving wiper blade across the reflective surface 66 in direction
52 and completing the first stroke of a cycle at mounting frame
67.
When valve regulation means 56 in valve is actuated in
movement 50 Fig. 6 fluid supply pressure is returned to conduit
15 introducing fluid pressure through the aperture in cylinder
head 81 driving the piston to its resting, retracted or off
position, moving in a working cycle fastened parts 12, 4, 5, 22,
76, 2, 17, 1 in direction 29. Fluid pressure is exhausted
through conduit 16, through valve exhaust port 92. ~ spray wash
may be incorporated and fastened by means to cylinder head 99
Fig. 1 and be associated with liquid supply means in a
conventional manner for supplying liquid to the mirror surface,
the liquid supply means includes an infeed conduit 61 suitably
connected and communicating with the nozzle 69. It is to be
clearly understood that the form of my invention herein shown and
described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and
that various changes in the shape, size and arrangements of parts
may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my
invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.
