WO2017023641A1

WO2017023641A1 - Magnet wiper for instrument window

Info

Publication number: WO2017023641A1
Application number: PCT/US2016/044232
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeffrey XIA; Harry FAN; Franky HE
Original assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
Priority date: 2015-08-05
Filing date: 2016-07-27
Publication date: 2017-02-09
Also published as: US20170035260A1

Abstract

A magnet wiper for an instrument window includes a group of magnets wherein two or more magnets constitute inside magnets located adjacent to the internal surface of an instrument window, and two or more other magnets constitute outside magnets located adjacent to the external surface of the instrument window. As the outside magnets are moved, the inside magnets move accordingly to manipulate a wiping medium and indirectly clean the internal surface of the instrument window.

Description

MAGNET WIPER FOR INSTRUMENT WINDOW TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] Embodiments are related to viewing windows for electrical, mechanical, and electro-mechanical instruments. Embodiments are also related to techniques, devices, and systems for cleaning such viewing windows.

BACKGROUND

[0002] any electrical/electronic, mechanical, and/or electromechanical instruments such as gas meters and other measuring systems (e.g., marine systems, samples, etc.) include the use of a transparent viewing window (e.g., glass or other transparent material) to view measurement data. A key problem with such viewing windows is that moisture (e.g., water, fog, etc.) or, for example, dirty oil, located on or at the inside portion of the viewing window obscures the viewing window, which renders difficult viewing of the instrument panel or other data displayed on instrument panels or other display media located below the window.

[0003] Current approaches to cleaning the internal side of the viewing window involve cleaning the window directly with, for example, a mechanism of manual manipulation. This approach, however, is complicated by the limited space available at the window, along with possible fluid leakage, damage to internal instrumentation. The manufacturing costs are also complicated, because of the difficulty in controlling the quality of the instrument during manufacturing to accommodate cleaning of the viewing window. The longtime cleaning performance is therefore not good because the wiper tip typically wears out sometime later, which it makes it difficult if not impossible to achieve gap compensation between the glass and the wiper tip.

[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a prior art instrument 10 with a viewing window 13 shown within area 12. It can be appreciated that due to the compact nature of the viewing window and its direct mechanical and electrical association with the instrument 10, cleaning the internal side of the viewing window 13 presents difficulties. One solution is simply to remove the iace portion 15 which maintains the viewing window 13. To do so, however, will likely result in damage to the instrument 13 and its sensitive internal components. Adding cleaning fluid can also damage the instrument 13. A typical approach involves pushing and pulling the outside handle by hand so that the connected wiper inside the window cleans the glass. This cleaning approach, however, is complicated because of the presence of the instrument's seal system.

BRIEF SUMMARY

[0005] The following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the disclosed embodiments and is not intended to be a full description, A full appreciation of the various aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole.

[0006] It is, therefore, one aspect of the disclosed embodiments to provide for an improved magnet wiper for an instrument viewing window,

[0007] It is another aspect of the disclosed embodiments to provide for a technique and apparatus for indirectly cleaning the internal side of an instrument viewing window,

[0008] It is also an aspect of the disclosed embodiments to provide for a magnet wiper for an instrument viewing window, wherein the magnet wiper is composed of a group of magnets.

[0009] It is yet another aspect of the disclosed embodiments to provide a group of magnets for a magnet wiper, wherein the group of magnets includes internal magnets and external/outside magnets with respect to an instrument viewing window.

[0010] The aforementioned aspects and other objectives and advantages can now be achieved as described herein. A magnet wiper for an instrument window is disclosed, which includes a group of magnets wherein two or more magnets constitute inside magnets located adjacent to the internal surface of an instrument window, and two or more other magnets constitute outside magnets located adjacent to the external surface of the instrument window. As the outside magnets are moved, the inside magnets move accordingly to manipulate a wiping medium and indirectly dean the internal surface of the instrument window. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally-similar elements throughout the separate views and which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, further illustrate the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art perspective view of an instrument having a viewing window;

[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of an instrument and a viewing window with a magnet wiper, in accordance with a preferred embodiment;

[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the magnet wiper shown in FIG. 2, in accordance with a preferred embodiment; and

[0015] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the magnet wiper shown in FIG. 2, in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] The particular values and configurations discussed in these non-limiting examples can be varied and are cited merely to illustrate at least one embodiment and are not intended to limit the scope thereof.

[0017] The embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown. The embodiments disclosed herein can be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the embodiments to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and ail combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of an instrument 20 having a viewing window 29 with a magnet wiper 25, in accordance with a preferred embodiment. The magnet wiper 25 is composed of a group of magnets including internal/inside magnets 22, 24 and external/outside magnets 26, 28. The viewing window 29, the internal/inside magnets 22, 24, and the external/outside magnets 26, 28 are located generally within an instrument block 30. Although not a limiting feature of the disclosed embodiments, it can be appreciated that the instrument 30 can be, for example, an instrument such as a gas meter or other electronic/mechanical device with a display providing instrument readings, in the case of instrument 20, the display is located beneath or below the internal side of the view window 29. The viewing window 29 may be composed of, for example, glass or another transparent material.

[0019] FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the magnet wiper 25 shown in FIG. 2, in accordance with a preferred embodiment. In FIG. 3, only the external/outside magnets 26, 28 are shown. The magnet wiper 25 is indicated generally in FIG. 3 by dashed lines. An instrument component 31 is also shown in FIG. 3.

[0020] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the magnet wiper 25 shown in FIG. 2, in accordance with a preferred embodiment. In the side view shown in FIG. 4, the externa! magnet 28 is shown with respect to the internal magnet 24.

[0021] The magnet wiper 25 thus includes a plurality of magnets 26, 28, and 22, 24. The internal magnets 22, 24 are located adjacent to the internal surface or inside portion of the viewing window 29. The external magnets 26, 28 are located adjacent to the external surface or outside portion of the viewing window 29. As the outside or external magnets 26, 28 are moved, the inside magnets 22, 24 move accordingly to manipulate a wiping medium 31 and indirectly clean the internal surface of the instrument window 29. The wiping medium 31 may be a material located on the internal surface of the viewing window 29, which when moved appropriately via the magnets 26, 28, and 22, 24, cleans the internal surface of the viewing window 29.

[0022] Based on the foregoing, it can be appreciated that a number of embodiments, preferred and alternative, are disclosed herein. For example, in one embodiment, a magnet wiper 25 for an instrument window 29 can be implemented. Such a magnet wiper system or apparatus 25 can include a plurality of magnets wherein at least two magnets among the plurality of magnets comprise inside magnets 22, 24 located adjacent to an internal surface of an instrument window 29 and wherein at least two other magnets among the plurality of magnets comprise outside magnets 26, 28 located adjacent to an external surface of the instrument window 29, such that as the outside magnets 26, 28 are moved, the inside magnets 22, 24 respectively move accordingly to manipulate a wiping medium and indirectly clean the internal surface of the instrument window 29. Conversely, as the inside magnets 22, 24 are moved, the respective outside magnets 26, 28 move accordingly due to the magnetic force thereof between the outside and inside magnets (assuming appropriate positive and negative magnetic force implementations).

[0023] In some embodiments, the wiping medium can be located adjacent to the internal surface, in another embodiment, the wiping medium can be located between the internal surface and the inside magnets. In still another embodiment, the wiping medium removes moisture from the infernal surface of the instrument window, in another embodiment, the wiping medium removes moisture from the internal surface of the instrument window 29 in response to manipulation of the wiping medium by the plurality of magnets. In yet another embodiment, the wiping medium can be located adjacent to the internal surface and between the internal surface and the inside magnets 22, 24.

[0024] In another embodiment, a magnet wiper 25 for an instrument window 29 can be implemented, which includes a plurality of magnets comprising inside magnets 22, 24 located adjacent to an internal surface of an instrument window 29 and outside magnets 26, 28 located adjacent to an external surface of the instrument window 29, such that as the outside magnets 28, 28 are moved, the inside magnets 22, 24 move accordingly with respect to the outside magnets 26, 28 via a magnetic force thereof to manipulate a wiping medium and indirectly clean the infernal surface of the instrument window 29. Conversely, as the inside magnets 22, 24 are moved, the respective outside magnets 26, 28 move accordingly due to the magnetic force thereof between the outside and inside magnets (assuming appropriate positive and negative magnetic force implementations).

[0025] In yet another embodiment, a method of configuring a magnet wiper 25 for an instrument window 29 can be implemented. Such a method can include steps or operations for providing a plurality of magnets wherein at least two magnets among the plurality of magnets comprise inside magnets 22, 24 and at least two other magnets among the plurality of magnets comprise outside magnets 26, 28; locating the inside magnets 22, 24 adjacent to an internal surface of the instrument window 29; and positioning the outside magnets 26, 28 adjacent to an external surface of the instrument window 29. Thus, according to such a method, as the outside magnets 26, 28 are moved, the inside magnets 22, 24 move accordingly to manipulate a wiping medium and indirectly clean the internal surface of the instrument window. Conversely, as the inside magnets 22, 24 are moved, the respective outside magnets 26, 28 move accordingly due to the magnetic force thereof between the outside and inside magnets (assuming appropriate positive and negative magnetic force implementations),

[0026] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description, it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure, individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and ail such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

1 . A magnet wiper for an instrument window, comprising:

a plurality of magnets wherein at least two magnets among said plurality of magnets comprise inside magnets located adjacent to an internal surface of an instrument window and wherein at least two other magnets among said plurality of magnets comprise outside magnets are located adjacent to an external surface of said instrument window, such that as said outside magnets are moved said inside magnets move accordingly to manipulate a wiping medium and indirectly clean said internal surface of said instrument window.

2. The magnet wiper of claim 1 wherein said wiping medium is located adjacent to said internal surface.

3. The magnet wiper of claim 1 wherein said wiping medium is located between said internal surface and said inside magnets,

4. The magnet wiper of claim 1 wherein said wiping medium removes moisture from said internal surface of said instrument window.

5. The magnet wiper of claim 1 wherein said wiping medium removes moisture from said internal surface of said instrument window in response to manipulation of said wiping medium by said plurality of magnets.

6. The magnet wiper of claim 1 wherein said wiping medium is located adjacent to said internal surface and between said internal surface and said inside magnets.

7. A magnet wiper for an instrument window, comprising:

a plurality of magnets comprising inside magnets located adjacent to an internal surface of an instrument window, outside magnets located adjacent to an external surface of said instrument window, such that as said outside magnets are moved, said inside magnets move accordingly with respect to said outside magnets via a magnetic force thereof to manipulate a wiping medium and indirectly clean said internal surface of said instrument window.

8. The magnet wiper of claim 7 wherein at least two magnets among said plurality of magnets comprise said inside magnets and wherein at least two other magnets among said plurality of magnets comprise said outside magnets.

9. A method of configuring a magnet wiper for an instrument window, comprising: providing a plurality of magnets wherein at least two magnets among said plurality of magnets comprise inside magnets and at least two other magnets among said plurality of magnets comprise outside magnets;

locating said inside magnets adjacent to an internal surface of an instrument window;

positioning said outside magnets adjacent to an external surface of said instrument window; and

wherein as said outside magnets are moved, said inside magnets move accordingly to manipulate a wiping medium and indirectly clean said internal surface of said instrument window.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said wiping medium removes moisture from said internal surface of said instrument window in response to manipulation of said wiping medium by said plurality of magnets.