GB2485424A

GB2485424A - Method of adapting a vehicle having a screenwashing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2485424A
Application number: GB1101492.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Craig Price
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-11-11
Filing date: 2011-01-28
Publication date: 2012-05-16
Also published as: GB201019076D0; GB201101492D0

Abstract

A method of adapting a vehicle 10 having a screenwashing apparatus which includes a screenwash reservoir 18 for screenwashing liquid, the reservoir 18 having a filler formation 16 through which the screenwasher liquid may be replenished, the method including using an adhesive to attach to a vehicle surface, a collector 12 in such position so as to be disposed in relation to the windscreen 13a to collect liquid therefrom, the collector 12 having an elongate trough-shaped part, and the trough-shaped part having a seal where an upper edge of the trough-shaped part engages the vehicle surface, and the trough-shaped part having a drainage formation at or adjacent each end thereof, each drainage formation being adapted to connect with a delivery pipe 15, and the method including connecting one end of the delivery pipe 15 to a selected one of the drainage formations and connecting a second send end of the delivery pipe 15 to an inlet to a filter device, and connecting an outlet from the filter device to the filler formation 16 of the reservoir 18 such that filtered liquid delivered from the windscreen 13a is delivered to the reservoir 18.

Description

Title: Method of Adapting a Vehicle Having a Screenwashing Apparatus

Description of Invention

This invention relates to method of adapting a vehicle which has a screen washing apparatus, particularly, but not exclusively, road vehicles.

It is usual to provide a road vehicle with windscreen washing apparatus operable to deliver a screenwash liquid, generally water-based with an addition of a solvent, detergent and/or other substance(s), to the windscreen of the vehicle for cleaning it, assisted by operation of the windscreen wiper(s).

Many vehicles also include such a facility for the rear window(s) thereof.

Screenwash in road vehicles is held in a reservoir, typically in the engine bay, which has an associated pump to deliver the screenwash to jets, through a feed pipe or pipes, upon receiving a signal from the driver to do so. Thus the liquid is jetted onto the windscreen. After landing on the windscreen, the screenwash will be wiped across the windscreen by the wiper(s), before running down the screen to a finisher at the base of the windscreen (at least when the vehicle is stationary), from where it is directed into drainage channels. These channels will direct the used screenwash to the bottom of the vehicle where it falls to the road. Such channels also deal with rainwater falling on the vehicle's screen.

The screenwash reservoir will typically be of a relatively high volume, generally 2-4 litres in total, as it is preferable to minimise the requirement for it to be replenished by the user at frequent intervals. The volume will generally be defined with consideration of high mileage users.

With increasing concerns about the environment, both vehicle manufacturers and vehicle owners are eager to minimise the environmental impact of their vehicles, which is the focus of the current invention. This is particularly important as data sheets of many screenwash products state that their introduction to water courses should be avoided, yet this would happen through normal use of the product in a typical road vehicle not benefiting from the invention.

It has been previously proposed to collect water from a windscreen and to reclaim it to the reservoir for recycling. One such proposal is described in GB-A-231 5994. The finisher is configured to collect the liquid and direct it to the reservoir. DE-A-4101 820 shows another proposal.

Thus previously the efficacy of collecting liquid from a windscreen and re-cycling it has been recognised, but the proposals to do so have been required either to be built in to a vehicle during its construction, or otherwise a major task of reordering an existing vehicle would be required.

According to a first aspect of the invention I provide a method of adapting a vehicle having a screenwashing apparatus which includes a screenwash reservoir for screenwashing liquid, a pumping device to pump screenwashing liquid from the screenwash reservoir along a supply conduit to at least one jet from where the screenwashing liquid is in use jetted onto the vehicle windscreen, the screenwash reservoir having a filler formation through which the screenwasher liquid may be replenished, the method including using an adhesive to attach to a vehicle surface, a collector in such position so as to be disposed in relation to the windscreen to collect liquid therefrom, the collector having an elongate trough-shaped part having a length of less than 300 mm, and the trough-shaped part having a seal where an upper edge of the trough-shaped part engages the vehicle surface, and the trough-shaped part having a drainage formation at or adjacent each end thereof, each drainage formation being adapted to connect with a delivery pipe, and the method including connecting one end of a delivery pipe to a selected one of the drainage formations, and connecting a second send end of the delivery pipe to an inlet to a filter device, and connecting an outlet from the filter device relative to the filler formation of the screenwash reservoir such that filtered liquid delivered from the windscreen is delivered to the screenwash reservoir.

The present invention provides a method which can be applied readily and economically to adapt the vast majority of vehicles by using a simple kit, whatever the particular configuration of the vehicle.

When adapted according to the invention the amount of screenwash released into the environment from the vehicle is reduced by recovering some of it and returning it to the screenwash reservoir. The invention will also enable rainwater to be collected and delivered to the reservoir. This reduces the frequency with which the user has to fill up the reservoir, and also has the environmental benefit of reducing the release of screenwash into water courses leading from the roads.

The collector may be adhered to the vehicle surface in relation to the windscreen so as to extend along a lowermost edge of the windscreen, or adjacent such edge. The vehicle surface to which the collector is adhered may be either the windscreen itself or a finisher which is a component which may be provided between the lower edge of the windscreen and the engine compartment, whichever is the most convenient for the particular type, make and model of vehicle.

Thus there is no need to modify the finisher to provide a collector, but simply, a collector is adhered in position to the vehicle surface.

In one example, the collector is adhered to the vehicle surface by a double-.

sided adhesive tape which may be provided along the length of the collector, one side of which is adhered to the collector, and the other to the vehicle surface. However as desired, alternatively the collector may be adhered to the vehicle surface by an adhesive which is applied to one or each of the collector and the vehicle surface.

Although the collector may be one of many suitable configurations, desirably the collector includes a side wall which is adhered to the vehicle surface, the side wall including at an upper end thereof, a lip which provides the seal to the vehicle surface when the collector is adhered to the vehicle surface.

In a preferred arrangement filtration is provided in association with the collector.

For example, the collector may be fitted with a mesh for straining liquid from the windscreen. Such mesh may be capable of straining out dirt and debris down to a size of 0.5mm. Thus larger dirt and debris may not be collected and possibly block the flow of liquid to or from the drainage formation.

Thus the collected liquid which is delivered to the filter device may be substantially dirt and debris free, but may still contain entrained smaller particles of dirt, debris and even grease. The filter device may filter the delivered liquid to filter out particles down to a size of about 20 micron.

The method step of connecting the outlet from the filter device relative to the filler formation may include providing an aperture in a lid which closes the filler formation of the reservoir, and inserting into the aperture the outlet from the filter device, which may conveniently be a tube. Preferably the outlet is a close fit to the aperture so that the aperture is substantially closed by the inserted outlet.

It will be appreciated therefore that by the method of the invention, the only modification which needs to be made to the existing screenwashing apparatus is the provision of the aperture in the lid of the reservoir. Other than this, no re-ordering of any vehicle component is required, and the function of the existing vehicle screenwashing apparatus is unaffected, other than it is no longer necessary to replenish the reservoir as often as before, if at all.

According to a second aspect of the invention, I provide a vehicle adapted by the method of the first aspect of the invention.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: FIGURE 1 is an illustrative view of a vehicle adapted by the method of the first aspect of the invention; FIGURE 2 shows a part of a collector used in adapting the vehicle of vehicle shown in figure 1, in a front cross-sectional view; FIGURE 3a and 3d show a cross-sectional view of the collector from each side, and figures 3b and 3c show each side of the collector; FIGURE 4 shows a vertical cross-sectional view of the collector; FIGURE 5 is an illustrative enlarged perspective view of part of the adapted vehicle.

Referring now to the drawings, a vehicle is shown at 10. The vehicle 10 has a front windscreen 1 3a, a rear windscreen 1 3b and two windscreen wipers 1 7a and 17b for the front windscreen 13a. The invention will be described with reference to the front windscreen I 3a by way of example.

The vehicle 10 includes a screenwashing apparatus which includes a screenwash reservoir as indicated at 18, a pumping device 20 which is in the example integrally provided with the screenwash reservoir 18, and a supply conduit 21 which extends from the pumping device 20 towards at least one jet 22a, 22b from where screenwashing liquid pumped from the reservoir 18, is jetted onto the front windscreen 13a when the pumping device 20 is actuated by a driver of the vehicle 10.

The pumping device 20 is operable electrically under the demand of the vehicle's driver, by means of a switch provided with the vehicle's driving controls, e.g. associated with a switch controlling windscreen wipers 17a and 1 7b. Upon receiving a signal from the driver the pumping device 20 pumps the screenwash liquid from the reservoir 18, through the supply pipe 21, and in the example, up to pipe branches pipes 21a and 21b, which extend to the washer jets 22a and 22b respectively, which jet pressurised screenwash liquid towards the windscreen 13a.

The screenwash reservoir 18 is that which is fitted at the construction of the vehicle 10, typically within a compartment provided for the reservoir 18 within bodywork or in an engine compartment F of the vehicle 10. The reservoir 18 has a filler formation 16 though which the reservoir 18 may be replenished with screenwashing liquid. The filler formation 16 is usually closed by a removable lid 16a.

In accordance with the present invention the vehicle 10 is adapted by providing a means to enable liquid from the front windscreen 13a to be collected, filtered, and delivered to the screenwash reservoir 18 for recycling.

The method of the invention utilises a collector 12 which includes an elongate trough-like part 12a. For a reason explained hereafter, the length of the trough-shaped part 1 2a is less than 300mm and preferably less than 200mm.

As best seen in figures 3 and 4, the collector 12 has a side wall 12b which in use is presented adjacent to a vehicle surface S to which the collector 12 is fastened. In the example, the collector 12 is fastened to a finisher ISa which is a portion of the vehicle 10 located immediately beneath the front windscreen 1 3a. The finisher 1 5a closes a space between the front windscreen 1 3a and a bonnet which in normal use, closes the engine compartment E. In the figures, the bonnet is omitted for clarity. In the example, a pair of windscreen wipers I 7a, I 7b are mounted on drive spindles which pass though the finisher 1 5a.

The side wall 12b has an integral shaped lip 24 at the upper end of the side wall 12b, the lip 24 extending for substantially the full length of the trough-shaped part 12a. When the collector 12 is fastened to the vehicle surface 5, the lip 24 will provide a seal to contact the vehicle surface S thus to encourage liquid descending the front windscreen 13a to the vehicle surface 5, to pass into the collector 12. Where the trough-shaped part 12a is made by moulding etc. in plastic material, the lip 24 may be integrally formed with the side wall I 2b. In another example a seal may be attached to the trough-shaped part 1 2a or otherwise provided.

So as not to breach the integrity of the finisher 15a by attaching the collector 12 to the vehicle surface S by fasteners, the collector 12 is fastened to the vehicle surface S by adhesive. In the example illustrated, a length of double sided adhesive tape T is adhered on one side to the side wall 12b along the length of the trough-shaped part of the collector 12. A removable protective backing may be peeled from the strip T to expose the adhesive of the other side of the strip T for adhering the collector 12 to the vehicle surface S when required.

In another example, the collector 12 could be adhered to the vehicle surface S by applying liquid or other adhesive (e.g. "super glue") to the side wall 12b of the collector 12 and/or to the vehicle surface S. In each case, upon adhering the collector 12 to the vehicle surface S as described, the lip 24 seal will engage the vehicle surface S, preferably deforming resiliently slightly, in order to form a good seal.

In another example, depending on the actual vehicle construction, the collector 12 could be adhered to the windscreen 13a itself rather than the finisher ISa, in the manner described. In this case the lip 24 provides a seal with the windscreen 1 3a rather than the finisher 1 5a.

It will be appreciated that the constructions and layouts of vehicles vary greatly from type to type and make to make and model to model. The provision of a short collector 12 having a length of less than 300mm means that the collector 12 can be used to adapt the vast majority of vehicles in accordance with the invention, as for the greatest majority of vehicles, the spacing apart of a pair of windscreen wipers 17a, 17b will be greater than 300mm and so the collector 12 can be adhered to the vehicle surface S in a position generally between them, but as desired above or below, where the drive spindles for the wipers 17a, 17b extend through the finisher ISa.

Where the invention is applied to a vehicle having a single front windscreen wiper, or to the rear windscreen I 3b where a single wiper 17 only is provided, being short, the collector 12 can be adhered to the relevant vehicle surface S to one side of the single windscreen wiper 17.

A finisher 15a may or may not be provided as part of the vehicle, but provided that the collector 12 can be positioned to extend along the lower edge of the windscreen 13a, or adjacent the lower edge, the vehicle 10 may be adapted by the method of the invention.

Although it is stated that the collector 12 has a length of less than 300mm, preferably the length is less than 200mm, as a collector of the proportions shown in the illustrative drawings (in the order of 25mm wide by 25mm deep) can be fitted to the finisher isa where provided, or the windscreen 13a, 13b without significantly obscuring vision through the windscreen or the ordinary operation of the windscreen wiper 17 or wipers 17a, 17b, and with a length of 200mm can still collect adequate liquid from the windscreen 13a, 13b, so that in most conditions, the screenwash level in the reservoir 18 can be generally maintained, as described below.

The collector 12 has drainage formations in the form of pipe connectors 14a and 14b, located at respective ends of the trough-shaped part 12a of the collector 12.

In the example, the pipe connectors 14a, 14b are spigots with integrally moulded barbs, so that a pipe 15, e.g. a flexible plastic hose, can be push fitted onto a respective one of the pipe connectors 14a, 14b depending upon the side of the vehicle 10 where the reservoir 18 is located. The other unused pipe connector 14a, 14b is blanked off as required so that collected liquid flows from the collector 12 through one selected drainage formation/pipe connector 14a, 14b only. Of course preferably the collector 12 is fastened to the vehicle surface S slightly askew, so that there is a natural fall to encourage liquid to flow from the collector 12 through the selected (lower) drainage formation 14a or 14b.

Instead of having to blank off an unused pipe connector 14a, 14b, in another example the collector 12 may be provided with both drainage formations 14a, 14b closed, and a selected one of them needing to be opened, e.g. by removing a blocking member or puncturing a thin barrier, to allow fluid flow to a connected pipe 15.

Preferably the collector 12 provides filtration, to prevent larger dirt and debris such as leaves, collecting and blocking the flow of collected liquid from the trough-shaped part 12a. In this example, this is provided by a simple mesh 12c which strains the collected liquid and prevents dirt and debris entering the trough-shaped part 12a. Alternatively a rough filter may be provided within the trough-shaped part 12a e.g. adjacent to the selected or each, drainage formation 14a, 14b. The grid 12c may filter out debris/particles down to a size of about 0.5mm.

The delivery pipe 15 extends from the pipe connector 14a or 14b towards the screenwash reservoir 18 in the vehicle's engine compartment E to where a filter device F is provided. The filter device F has an inlet 33 formed by a spigot with integrally formed barbs, so that the delivery pipe 15, cut to a suitable length, can be push-fitted onto the inlet 33 spigot. The filter device F further includes a hollow H which contains a fine filter element 34 though which liquid delivered from the collector 12, is constrained to flow. The filter element 34 is capable in the example of very fine filtering of the liquid, to filter out any particles down to a size in the order of 20 micron. With this level of fine filtering, any grease particles entrained in the collected liquid may also be removed by the filter.

The filter device F may have a body of parts which are separable to enable the filter element 34 to be removed for cleaning or replacement, or because the delivery pipe 15 is readily separable from the inlet spigot 33, the entire filter device F could readily be replaced when the filter element 34 is spent.

The hollow H does not contain a significant volume of liquid, and in the absence of a flow of liquid to the filter device F, the liquid will quickly drain through the filter device F, through the filter element 34, to an outlet 35 of the filter device F. The outlet 35 extends through an aperture 36 provided in the lid I 6a closing the filler formation 16 of the liquid reservoir 1 8, during the vehicle's adaptation. The outlet 35 from the filter device F is preferably a simple tube which extends down the filler formation 16. The lid 16a remains removable from the reservoir 18, as required to enable liquid to be poured into the reservoir 18, and so the usual operation of the screenwash apparatus is entirely unaffected after the vehicle 10 is adapted.

The aperture 36 in the lid 16a of the reservoir 18 may readily be made by drilling or puncturing. When the outlet 35 of the filter device F is inserted, preferably the aperture 36 is closed, so that debris cannot enter the reservoir 18 through the filler formation 16 around the outlet 35 from the filter device F. In use of the adapted vehicle 10, when the vehicle 10 is stationary or moving at least at slower road speeds, any liquid would flow down the windscreen 13a, through the mesh 12c, into the trough-shaped part 12a of the collector part 12. The liquid would include rain water and could include used screenwash, or a mixture of both. The rough filtered liquid would flow through the selected pipe connector 14a/14b into the delivery pipe 15, and hence to the reservoir 18 after filtering by the filter device F. Although not shown in the exemplary drawings, preferably there is provided an overflow apparatus, to ensure that the excess liquid which cannot be accommodated in the reservoir is directed away, for example to a position in a wheel arch or elsewhere on the vehicle. Such overflow apparatus may include an overflow pipe from the filter device F. The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method of adapting a vehicle having a screenwashing apparatus which includes a screenwash reservoir for screenwashing liquid, a pumping device to pump screenwashing liquid from the screenwash reservoir along a supply conduit to at least one jet from where the screenwashing liquid is in use jetted onto the vehicle windscreen, the screenwash reservoir having a filler formation through which the screenwasher liquid may be replenished, the method including using an adhesive to attach to a vehicle surface, a collector in such position so as to be disposed in relation to the windscreen to collect liquid therefrom, the collector having an elongate trough-shaped part having a length of less than 300 mm, and the trough-shaped part having a seal where an upper edge of the trough-shaped part engages the vehicle surface, and the trough-shaped part having a drainage formation at or adjacent each end thereof, each drainage formation being adapted to connect with a delivery pipe, and the method including connecting one end of a delivery pipe to a selected one of the drainage formations, and connecting a second send end of the delivery pipe to an inlet to a filter device, and connecting an outlet from the filter device relative to the filler formation of the screenwash reservoir such that filtered liquid delivered from the windscreen is delivered to the screenwash reservoir.
2. A method according to claim I wherein the collector is adhered to the vehicle surface in relation to the windscreen so as to extend along a lowermost edge of the windscreen, or adjacent such edge.
3. A method according to claim I or claim 2 wherein the collector is adhered to the vehicle surface by a double-sided adhesive tape, one side of which is adhered to the collector, and the other to the vehicle surface.
4. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the collector is adhered to the vehicle surface by an adhesive which is applied to one or each of the collector and the vehicle surface.
5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims in which the collector includes a side wall which is adhered to the vehicle surface, the side wall including at an upper end thereof, a lip which provides a seal to the vehicle surface when the collector is adhered to the vehicle surface.
6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein filtration is provided in association with the collector.
7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the collector is fitted with a mesh for straining liquid from the windscreen.
8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the mesh is capable of straining out dirt and debris down to a size of 0.5mm.
9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the filter device filters out the delivered liquid filter particles down to a size of about micron.
10. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the method step of connecting the outlet from the filter device relative to the filler formation includes providing an aperture in a lid which closes the filler formation of the reservoir, and inserting into the aperture the outlet from the filter device.11. A method of adapting a vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.10. A vehicle adapted by a method of any one of the preceding claims.
11. A vehicle substantially as herein before described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.
12. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.