GB2356128A

GB2356128A - Marine vehicle with remotely controllable windscreen wiper system

Info

Publication number: GB2356128A
Application number: GB9926880A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Philip Eddy
Original assignee: Hepworth & Co Ltd B
Current assignee: Hepworth & Co Ltd B
Priority date: 1999-11-12
Filing date: 1999-11-12
Publication date: 2001-05-16
Also published as: GB9926880D0

Abstract

A marine vehicle has a remotely controllable windscreen wiper system which comprises a wiper blade 4, to pass over the screen, driven by a motor unit 3 mounted adjacent the screen, the motor unit 3 being controlled by a switch means 6 actuable by a remote control, which may be a hand held transmitter. The switch means (6, fig.2) may have different electrical contacts arranged drive the wiper blade, via the motor unit 3, at different speeds and/or intervals, each contact connected to the motor by a separate electrical lead. The switch (6, fig.2) may have a receiving means 8 to receive signals, via light, such as infra-red, or sound waves, from the transmitter. The transmitter may send different signals for respective different operation modes of the wiper. The receiver 8 may include an infra-red receiving LED. Others LEDs 10 on the transmitter an on the exterior of the switch housing (7, fig.2) may illuminate to confirm specific commands. An off command from the transmitter may return to wiper to its self park position and render the system to a standby condition awaiting new instructions.

Description

2356128 Agents Ref. P02749GB WINDSCREEN WIPERS This invention relates to

windscreen wipers, more particularly windscreen wipers for clearing windscreens of marine vehicles and the like.

Generally windscreen wipers have a number of different speed or interval settings controlled by a switch having different electrical contacts arranged to power the wipers at the various settings. The switch is within reach of the operator when he is sitting at the control panel. Several long lengths of wire extend between the switch and the geared motor powering the wiper within the walls of the control room, i.e. wheelhouse or bridge. This is costly to install and takes up much space in the bulkhead or associated walls of the wheelhouse or bridge.

This problem been aggravated recently because more control facilities are being located in the wheelhouse. For example, a ships engineer is now based in the wheelhouse, and he has monitors to view engine room; the monitors require wiring. It is one object of this invention to minimise the amount of wiring necessary to drive the windscreen wipers, thus also reducing installation time and cost, and also avoid taking up space which could contain wiring for other purposes.

According to the invention in one aspect there is provided a marine vehicle having a windscreen to be wiped by a wiper system, the wiper system comprising a wiper blade to pass over the screen and driven by a motor mounted adjacent the screen, the motor C being controlled by switch means located adjacent the motor, the switch means being actuable by remote control.

Preferably the motor and switch means are located at the top of the screen remote from an instrument panel from which the operator derives information to drive the vehicle. The instrument panel will house numerous instruments which the operator needs to monitor visually and aurally.

Typically the switch means has different electrical contacts arranged to power the motor to move the wiper blade at different speeds and/or intervals, and each contact is connected to the motor by a separate electrical lead. In the case of this invention such leads may be short.

Preferably the switch means has a receiver to receive signals from a transmitter operating by light or sound waves, e.g. infrared, ultrasonic or radio frequency transmission could be used effectively. VAlile different wave communication systems may be used, preferably the signals are infra-red light beams.

It is preferred that the transmitter is a hand held device. Preferably the transmitter is arranged to send a different signal for a respective mode of operation of the switch means.

Preferably the motor and associated blade of the wiper are the top of the windscreen remote from the instrument panel.

3

Claims

1. A marine vehicle having a windscreen to be wiped by a wiper, the wiper comprising a wiper blade to pass over the screen driven by a motor mounted adjacent the screen, the motor being controlled by switch means located adjacent the motor, and actuable by remote control.

2. A vehicle according to Claim 1, wherein the switch means has different electrical contacts arranged to power the motor to move the wiper blade at different speeds and/or intervals, and each contact is connected to the motor by a separate electrical lead.

3. A vehicle according to Claim I or 2, wherein the switch means has a receiver to receive signals from a transmitter operating by light or sound waves.

4. A vehicle according to Claim 3, wherein the signals are infra-red light beams.

5. A vehicle according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the transmitter is a hand held device.

6. A vehicle according to Claim 5, wherein the transmitter is arranged to send a different signal for a respective mode of operation of the switch means.

LS/J'W/bw/12.11.99 P02749GB.D&C In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figure I is an elevation of the interior of a ship's wheelhouse; and Figure 2 shows the arrangement of the switch and motor.

As shown in Figure 1, the instrument panel or dashboard I of the control room or wheelhouse or bridge area of a ship has numerous instruments for the pilot to monitor. He may need to do so visually or by sound. The fact that there are numerous instruments means that the skipper is kept busy. The windscreen has a wiper system 2 mounted near the top at the centre of the window, made up of a motor and gear unit 3, on a frame, a wiper blade 4 on an arm 5, and a switch mechanism 6.

As shown in Figure 2, the switch mechanism 6 comprises a box 7 housing an infira-red receiving/switching circuit 8. The circuit receives coded infra-red signals via a single infra-red LED receiving device 9 mounted internally to the front of the receiver unit. Signals are then decoded by the receiver circuit and converted into control commands to instruct the wiper motor 3 to operate in its various modes. The receiver confirms acceptance of its command instructions from the hand set by illuminating the appropriate LEDs 10. The system includes a hand held transmitter 11 having battery means to transmit coded infra-red signals to the receiving LED 9. When the skipper wants to actuate the wiper system he can press a respective button on the transmitter sending the appropriately coded signal to the receiver. To deactivate the system the skipper does the same instructing the receiver to turn off the system and return the wiper motor to its self-park position. The receiver stays in a 'standby' condition until it receives a new command instruction.

Not only is the apparatus simple to operate and need not distract the eye of the skipper from the instruments he is monitoring, but the fact that there is no need for wiring to extend from the panel or dashboard to the wiper system switch means that less space is required and installation costs are reduced. The space saved may be used to accommodate other wiring for use with extra instruments.

The invention may be applied to vessels such as luxury yachts, ferries, the military, cargo vessels, and to aeronautical instruments also.