US1487405A - Suction motor for windshield cleaners - Google Patents

Description

March 18 1924. 1,487,405

S. G. SKINNER SUCTION MOTOR FOR WINDSHIELD CLEANERS Filed not. 24. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 nlfnta; SZG/J/Z 6/11 6. 51477022 6/" :3 (5 amr/fw March 18 1924. 1,487,405

s.G.smNNER SUCTION MOTOR FOR WINDSHIELD CLEANERS .Filed Oct. 24. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 18, 1924.

outrun STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN esxmnna, or WILMETTE, rumors, assienon, BY MESNE assrenmnn'rs, TO THE FOLBERTH AUTO SPECIALTY COMPANY, or cnavnnm, omo, A conrona TION OF OHIO.

soc'rron moron ron wrnnsnmnn CLEANERS} Application filed October 24,1921. Serial 170. 509,850.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it, known that I, STEPHEN G. SKINNER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Vilmette, the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a. certain new and useful Improvement in Suction Motors for WVindshi'eldCleaners, of which the following is afull, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a suction motor that i particularly adapted to form part' .of an automotive vehicle wind-shield cleaner. For the operation of my device I prefer to utilize suction create by the internal combustion engine of the vehicle with I which the cleaner is assoc'iated--for instance, a the suction created in the intake manifold ofthe engine.

One of the salient features of my present.

invention is the provision of novel means for properly effecting and controlling thealternate applications of. suction and atmospheric pressure to the opposite endsor sides of that element of the motor which is actuated by variations in pressure upon such ends or sides. As a description of the device of my invention will best be understood when read in connection with illustrative drawings, I shall proceed at once to a detailed description of the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a rear elevational view, on reduced scale, illustrating how the cleaner embodying the motor of my invention is ap-' plied to the wind-shield of an automotive vehicle;

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken 0 the line 22 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the motor taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;-

. motor;

Figure 4 is an isolated view in perspective of the device which controls the variations in pressure exerted upon the opposite sides of the reciprocating piston structure of the Figure 5 IS a fragmentary view, partly in vertical section, taken on line '5--5 of Figure 2, it being the purpose of this view to illustrate the locatienof the several passages in the plate over which the device'of Figure 4 moves in a manner presently to be explained;

Figure 6 is a detail view illustratin how the device of Figure 4, under thelin uence of snap-over mechanism, co-operates with the plate to which reference has been made in the' preceding description of Figure 5; Figure 7 is an elevational view of the inner face of said plate, the snap-over mechanism being removed and the passages in said plate being indicated by dotted lines;

Figure 8 is a, fragmentary sectional view The frame work B is provided with spaced apertures which receive the? oscillating shaft of the cleaning device and the bolts or sorews vherewith the cylinder structure of the motor of the cleaning device is secured upon the frame work.'- A suitable arrangement for mounting the cleaning device upon the frame work of the wind-shield. is.

illustrated in my Patent No. 1,395,604 dated November 1, 1921, said patent having issued on my co-pending application Serial No, 444,718, filed February 14, 1921.

The cylinder structure comprises a cast- I ing-preferably a die'casting-which is conformed to provide the opposed cylinders 10 and 11 and the offset portion 12, which is located intermediate the cylinders and which houses the mechanism for alternately con- 4 necting the cylinders 10 and 11 with the source of suction. 'The oflset portion of the housing is provided with an opening which is closed b a removable side plate 13,

the details of w ich are most clearly illus trated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7.. Plate 13' is held in position by a plurality of screws 14-14. The heads of the cylinders 10 and 11 are preferably in'the form of metal stampings 15-15 which are held in position by suitable screws (not shown) which enga e in the endsof the cylinder structure. aper or other suitable gaskets 17-17 effectively prevent air leakage at the cylinder heads.

inc

The piston structure comprises pistons 18--1 8, which are disposed and adaptedto reciprocate within the cylinder structure.

The pistons 18 are preferably formed in-- tegral with the connecting piece 19 which .is disposed below the common axis of thepistons andcylinders. Connectin piece 19 is provided with a longitudinal s 0t 20 and a cross pin 21, the purpose of which will presently be made clear. Each piston is provided with a cup leather 22 held in posigear sector 26, which is journaled upon a stub shaft 27. Stub shaft 27 threads into the cylinder casting as indicated at 28. The teeth of the sector 26 co-operate with the gear sector 29, which is fixed upon a shaft 30 by means of a set screw 31. The set screw and certain other parts of the apparatus, which are presently to be mentioned, are accessible through an opening 32 in the upper part of the cylinder casting.

.this opening being normally closed by a plate 33. Shaft 30 is journaled in the cylinder casting, projects forwardly from the casting and extends freely through an aperture in the wind-shield frame B. The rear iend'of shaft 30 is preferably provided with a handle 30 by means of which shaft 30 may be rocked manually.

At its forward end, the shaft 30 is provided with an aperture which receives the upper end of a cleaner arm 35. The cleaner arm is preferably formed of relatively stifi' wire and is fixed to the shaft 30 by set screw 36. Pivoted to the lower end of the cleaner arm is the cleaner device, which consists of the usual rubber squeegee 37 carried in a suitable frame 38.

From the description thus far it will be understood that when the piston structure reciproca-tes within the cylinders, the squeegee 37 will be caused to move across the front face of the wind-shield in the arc of a. circle having the axis of the shaft 30 as its center.

I shall now describe the means whereby the suction of the intake manifold is utilized to effect the reciprocation of the piston structure. upper portion of the cylinder casting is a nlpple 39 over which is slipped one end of a rubber tube 40, the other end of said rubber tube having suitable connection to the source of suction-for instance, the in- 2 take manifold of the engine. The ni ple 39 communicates with the bore 40 whic in The springs tend,

Projecting laterally from the turn communicates with the interior of needle valve housing 41, said valve housing being threaded into a horizontal bore in the cylinder casting, as illustrated in Fig. 8. The flow of air through the valve housing may be shut off entirely or regulated as desired by needle valve 42. A sprin 42 holds the needle valve in any desire adjustment. The needle valve housin communicates with avertical bore 43 in the cylinder structure), the bore 43 in turn communicating with a horizontal bore 44 (Fig. 8).

how let us refer to the removable side plate 13, the details of which are illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. This plate is provided with a plane inner surface 45. Formed in the surface 45 are three ports, a, b, and 0. the ports I) and a being located closely adjacent to but on opposite sides of port a. Port a communicates with a curved assage 47. this passage being illustrated as provided with a brass lining 48. Plate 13 is preferably 'die cast and the brass tube or lining 48 is utilized for a purpose which will be apparent to persons familar with die casting operations. Passage 47 communicates with a horizontal bore 49 which registers with the horizontal suction bore 44 Fig. 8) to which I have previously alluded. ort c communicates with an upwardly inclined passage 50 which, similarly to the passage 47, is provided with a brass liner 51. The brass liners 48 and 51 of passages 47 and 50, respectively, are provided to facilitate the formation of such passages in the die casting operation. Since such passa es are, curved, these cannot conveniently formed by removable cores. Neither can they conveniently be formed by drilling after the die casting operation. ence the brass liners are properly positioned with respect to the dies prior tothe casting operation and the metal of which the side plate is formed is cast around the liners so that the passages will be present afterthe die casting operation has been completed.- The upper end of passage 50 (Fig. 5) communicates with a horizontal bore 52 which reg-,

isters with a horizontal bore 53 in the cylinder structure (Fig. 2). Bore 53 communicates with a longitudina-lbore 54 in the cylinder structure. said bore 54 in turn communicating wit-h'the interior of cylinder 11 through a slot or notch 55, said slot or notch being formed in the end of cylinder 11 and extending from bore 54 to the inner surface of said cylinder. The port 0 communicates with the vertical bore 56 in plate 13. said vertical bore in turn communicating with the horizontal bore 57 (Figs. 5 and 7). Bore-.57 is intersected by a second bore 58 which registers with a bore 59 in the cylinder structure, said last-mentioned bore in turn communicating with the longitudinal a the general class to which my invention relates.

In the operation of the i vention, communication 1s. established between ports a and b when suction is to be created in cylinder v11, ports in this case being exposed to atmospheric, pressure. When suction is to be created 1n cylinder 10, communication is established between ports a and 0, port I) in'this instance being exposed to atmospheric pressure. I may state that the space between the pistons is always under atmosphericpressure by reason of leakage under plate 33 and around known manner.

shaft 30. However, for clearness, I have illustrated an atmospheric port .33 in plate 33.

I shall now describe the snap-over mechanism and explain how such mechanism cooperates with the device of Fig. 4 to control the ports a, b and 0. Y

The snap-over mechanism comprises a frame 61 having an arm 62 which is secured to the inner surface of'plate 13 by a screw 63 and a pin 64. The frame 61 is provided with parallel arms 65-65, each of which is provided with a laterally turned extremity 66. The, portions 6666 are notched at their-upper and lower edges to receive the slotted ends of the U-shaped members 67 and 68. Cross pins 69.69, carried by members 67 and 68, are connected by a-tension spring 70. The frameis conformed to lie around the free ends of each of the members 67 and '68 to limit the movement thereof. Arm 68 is the slow motion arm and is actuated at the piston structure by lugs, to which specific reference will presently be made. Arm 67 is the quick motion arm and is actuated by spring 70 in a well- Projecting laterally from the connecting iece 19 of the piston structure are two lugs 171 which effect the operation of the snap-over mechanism by their co-operation with the slow motion arm 68 thereof.

The parallel portions of the quick motion arm 67 of the snap-over mechanism a'inner surface of plate 13 by a light spring are provided with two aligned apertures which receive the stem 72 of the suction port controlling device, this device beingillustrated in detail in Fig. 4. The controlling device comprises a head 73 which is normally urged into contact with the plane motor of my in- 74. It will be noted ,thata recess 75 is formed in theportion of the head whichlies against the plane inner surface of plate 13. This recess is of such size that when the quick motion arm 67 of the snapover mechanism is in one of two positions which it assumes under the influence of spring 70, communication between ports a and b is afforded through said recess, and when the said iquick motion arm is in the other position which it assumes under the influence of said spring, communication is established between ports a and c. Thus, it will be understood, that the said recess 7 5 remains in registry with suction port a at all times, its registry with ports I) or 0 being determined by the position of the member 67 of the snap-over mechanism.

It should be noted that the annular face 76 of the suction port controlling device (Fig. 4) has a snug sliding fit with the plane inner surface of plate 13, this snug fit being maintained by spring 74. Thus is air leakage between the head 73 and the plate 13 prevented.

I previously alluded to the apertures in the parallel portions of the quick motion arm in which the stem 7 2 of the suction port controlling device slides. I would direct attention to the fact that the free end of the stem is reduced in diameter, as indicated at 7 2 and hasa comparatively loose fit in the aperture through which it projects. This loose fit is clearly illustrated in Figs. 6 and 9. The suction port controlling device is, therefore, always 'free'to assume any position, under the influence of spring 74,

wherein the annular face 76- fits snugly against the planeinner surface of the plata 6, atmospheric pressure is permitted to exist in cylinder .10, and, similarly, when the snap-over mechanism occupies the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6, atmospheric pressure is permitted to exist in cylinder .11. l

Now let us assume that the piston structure and the parts operated thereby are in the several positions shown in Figs.i2, 3 and 6, and that aha needle valve 42 has been opened to establish communication between the. intake manifold and the motor of the wind-shield cleaner. In this case, suctlon will be applied to cylinder 11 by reason of the fact that the recess 75 of the suction nism and moves the same toward the dotted line position indicated in Fig. 6. As soon as the arm 68is moved to such a position that the axis of spring 70 lies to the left (Fig. 6) of the axis of the member 67, the said member 67 is snapped to the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 6. When the arm 67 is snapped over, as thus explained, the recess "75 of the valve port controlling 1 device remains in registry with port a,

but comes into registry with port a, the

port 7) bein now exposed to atmospheric pressure. uction is, therefore, removed from cylinder 11 and is applied to cylinder 10, atmospheric pressure being permitted to exist in cylinder 11 when suction is applied to cylinder 10. This operation is repeated at the end of each stroke of the piston structure. With the valve 42 open, the cleaner device continues to operate so long as the engine with which it is connected is in operation and is developing sufiicient suction to operate the motor of the cleaning device.

At this time I wish to call attention to the fact that the device (Fig. 4) which controls communication between the ports a and the ports I) and c is self-seating. Moreover, by reason of the snug sliding contact between said controlling device and the inner surface of plate 13, the seal between these parts improves with use. I find' it desirable to form the controlling device of steel. The plate 13 is conveniently formed of one of the wellknown alloys suitable for die casting pur oses.

aving thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A motor of the class described, comprising a housing, a piston, structure adapted to reciprocate therein. said piston structure comprising a pair of separated but rigidly connected pistons, an opening in said houslng at a point between said pistons, a detachab e plate normally closing said opening, a snap-over mechanism mounted on said plate .and insertable and removable therewith,

said snap-over mechanism comprising slow and fastmotion arms, and a spring for actu ating the. fast motion arm when the slowmotion arm passes center in moving from one to the other of the extremities of its movement, a main suction port in said plate, a pair of secondary suction ports in said plate on opposite sides of the primary suction port, means for con'nectin the primary sucthe interior of the housing at opposite ends of the piston structure, a suction ort controlling device carried by the quic motion arm of the snap-over mechanism, said controlling device comprising an end recess which at all times overlies the primary suction port, and which alternately overlies the secondary suction ports as the aforesaid quick motion arm operates, spring means acting between the quick motion arm and the controlling device, and at all times holding the recessed end of the latter in sliding engagement with said plate, and,means on the piston structure for operating the slow motion arm of the sna -over mechanism.

2. In a motor of t e class described, a housing, a movable element adapted to o crate within the housing, said movable e ement being operated by subjecting its op-. posite. sides to different fluid pressures, an opening in said housing, a detachable plate for closing said opening, said plate bein provided with a lane inner surface, sai plate being rovided with a primary suction port an two secondary'suction ports, passages in the plate communicating with said ports, a valve controlled suction conduit communicating with the primary suction port passage, conduits registering with the secon ary suction port passages and terminating within the housing on opposite sides of the movable element, a suction port controlling device carried by and ada ted to reciprocate relative to the quick motion arm of the snap-over mechanism, spring means normally urging the controlling device into engagement with the aforesaid plane surface, an a recess in that end of the controlling device which engages the plate, said recess at all times overlying the port and adapted alternate secondary suction ports.

rimary- -suction y to overlie the 3. In a motor of the class described, a

housing comprising a portion having a flat surface, a primary and two secondary suction ports formed in said surface, the secondary suction ports being disposed on opposite sides of the primary suction port, a snap-over mechanism comprising a quick motion armmovable in a plane parallel to said surface, a self-seating port controllin device reciprocably and rotatably mounte in said quick motion arm, spring means actingbetween said quick motion arm and the controlling device, and normally holding the latter firmly in sliding engagement with said surface, that end of the controllin device which lies against said surface bein provided with a blind recess which at alftnnel I housing, a pair of spaced to reciprocate within the ousing, means overlies the primary suctionport, and which alternately overlies the secondary suctio n ports. 1

4. In a motor of the class described, a housing comprising a portion having a flat metal surface, a primary and two secondary suction ports formed in said surface the secondary. suction ports being disposed on opposite sides of the primary suction port, a snap-over mechanism comprising a quick motion arm movable in a plane parallel to said surface, a self-seating port controllin device reciprocably 'and 'rotatably mounteg in said quick motion arm, spring means acting between said quick motion arm and the controllin device andv normally holding the latter firm y in sliding engagement with said surface, that end of the controlling device which lies against said surface belng provided with a blind recess bounded by an annular metal surface which bears against the flat metal surface of the aforesaid housing portion, said blind recess at all times overlying the rimary suction ort and alternately over ying the secon ary suction PQ I 5. In a motor of the class described, a

istons adapted connecting said pistons, an opening in the housing between said pistons, a removable side plate closing said opening, a primary suction port and two secondary suction ports formed in said'side plate, means for connecting said secondary suction ports with a source of suction, communicating passages in said side platpafid'said housing for connecting said secondary suction. ports with the interior of the housing at opposite ends of the piston structure, suction port controlling means andsnap-over mechanism therefor both carried by said side plate and insertable and removable therewith and protuberances carried by the piston'connecting means, said protuberances being spaced apart and lying on opposite sides of thesnap-over mechanism, but having no mechanical connection therewith, said protuberances adapted to move said snap-over mechanism first in one direction and then in the other as the pistons reciprocate.

' In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 18 day of October, 1921.

STEPHEN G.'SKINNER,

Witnesses: I

Ann: C. Animus, EDNA V. GUs'rArsoN,

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