GB1601076A

GB1601076A - Vehicle lamp washer systems

Info

Publication number: GB1601076A
Application number: GB19474/78A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 1977-08-06
Filing date: 1978-05-15
Publication date: 1981-10-21
Also published as: IT1097661B; DE2735626A1; IT7826497A0; FR2399341A1

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO VEHICLE LAMP WASHER SYSTEMS (71) We, ROBERT BOSCH GMBH, a German company, of Postfach 50, 7 Stuttgart 1, Federal Republic of Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention, concerns washer systems for the lenses of vehicle lamps.

It has already been proposed to provide a washer installation including a driven feed pdmp having a pumping member rotating in s chamber, in which the axis of the outlet port opening from said chamber encloses a right angle with the rotational axis of the feed pump. When the pump is so built that its rotational axis is vertical, then when the reservoir container is empty, the fluid residue usually remaining in the pump chamber flows out, so that after the reservoir has been refilled, re-priming of the washing fluid through the feed pump is rendered very difficult. For this reason, in the known washer installations, care has had to be taken to vent the pump chamber on the delivery side of the pump.

According to the present invention, there is provided a washer system for the lenses of vehicle lamps, including a driven feed pump having a pumping chamber in which a pumping member is rotated, and being intended in use to be operated with the rotational axis of the pumping member upright; the chamber having an inlet and an outlet for a washing fluid, and the outlet being connected to a delivery pipe leading to a nozzle directed towards the lens to be washed; wherein the outlet and/or the at least portion of the delivery pipe connected to the outlet, is arranged so that the direction of washing liquid flow therethrough encloses an angle of less than 900 with respect to the rotational axis of the pumping member.

The invention thus gives the advantage that the residual fluid remains in the pumping chamber, so that drawing of the washing fluid from the re-filled reservoir container is possible without difficulty. The venting device required by the aforementioned known washing installation can also be omitted.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an elevation of a feed pump of a washer system embodying the invention, and Fig. 2 is an elevation of part of another embodiment.

A washer system which is not specifically illustrated, for the lenses of vehicle lamps comprises a feed assembly 10 for the washing fluid which includes a driving motor 12 and a feed pump 14. The feed assembly 10 is secured by means of a clamping device 16.

The feed pump 14 has a pump chamber within the interior of its housing and a rotary pumping member (not shown) is driven within the pump chamber by means of the driving motor. The feed pump 14 has two pipe connectors 18 and 20, of which the connector 18 communicating centrally with the delivery chamber serves for the connection of a suction- or feed-pipe for the washing fluid. The feed pipe connects the delivery chamber with an unillustrated reservoir for the washing fluid. The other connector 20 is an outlet connector or pressure connector, by means of which the washing fluid is conveyed by an unillustrated delivery pipe from the pump to a similarly unillustrated spray nozzle, whose orifice is directed towards the lens to be treated.

The outlet connector 20 is so arranged, that the axis 22 of its delivery opening encloses an angle 24 of less than 900 with the rotational axis 26 of the feed pump 14. The arrangement of the feed pump 14 is also made such that the axis 22 is inclined at an angle 28 to the horizontal 30.

In the form of construction illustrated in Fig. 2, which in essentials correspond with the form of construction according to Fig. 1, the pressure connector 40 is directed at a right angle to the rotational axis 26 of the feed pump 14. In order in a construction of this nature to be able to remedy the disadvantages of the prior art, the delivery pipe 42 which is connected to the outlet connector 40 is so disposed at least in the region where it is connected to the outlet connector 40, that it encloses with the rotational axis 26, an angle 44 which is less than 900.

The delivery pipe 42 is also inclined to the horizontal 30 at an angle 46.

By virtue of the invention it is ensured that a reserve of fluid always remains in the pumping chamber of the pump, so that washing fluid may immediately be drawn through the feed pump after the fluid reservoir has been re-filled.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A washer system for the lenses of vehicle lamps, including a driven feed pump having a pumping chamber in which a pumping member is rotated, and being intended in use to be operated with the rotational axis of the pumping member upright; the chamber having an inlet and an outlet for a washing fluid, and the outlet being connected to a delivery pipe leading to a nozzle directed towards the lens to be washed; wherein the outlet and/or the at least the portion of the delivery pipe connected to the outlet, is arranged so that the direction of washing liquid flow therethrough encloses an angle of less than 900 with respect to the rotational axis of the pumping member.

2. A washing system as claimed in claim 1, in which the outlet is provided by an outlet connector secured to the chamber wall, the axis of said connector enclosing the said angle with said rotational axis.

3. A washing system as claimed in claim 1, in which the chamber has an outlet connector directed at least approximately at right angles to the rotational axis, and wherein the delivery pipe is coupled to the outlet to enclose with the rotational axis, at least in the region where it is coupled to said outlet the said angle.

4. Washer systems for the lenses of vehicle lamps, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. this nature to be able to remedy the disadvantages of the prior art, the delivery pipe 42 which is connected to the outlet connector 40 is so disposed at least in the region where it is connected to the outlet connector 40, that it encloses with the rotational axis 26, an angle 44 which is less than 900. The delivery pipe 42 is also inclined to the horizontal 30 at an angle 46. By virtue of the invention it is ensured that a reserve of fluid always remains in the pumping chamber of the pump, so that washing fluid may immediately be drawn through the feed pump after the fluid reservoir has been re-filled. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A washer system for the lenses of vehicle lamps, including a driven feed pump having a pumping chamber in which a pumping member is rotated, and being intended in use to be operated with the rotational axis of the pumping member upright; the chamber having an inlet and an outlet for a washing fluid, and the outlet being connected to a delivery pipe leading to a nozzle directed towards the lens to be washed; wherein the outlet and/or the at least the portion of the delivery pipe connected to the outlet, is arranged so that the direction of washing liquid flow therethrough encloses an angle of less than 900 with respect to the rotational axis of the pumping member.