Rotating Cleaning Element Patents (Class 15/250.22)
  • Patent number: 11535204
    Abstract: The technology relates to a system for clearing a sensor cover. The system may comprise a wiper comprising a wiper support, a wiper blade, and a sensor cover. The wiper blade may be configured to clear the sensor cover of debris, and the sensor cover may be configured to house one or more sensors. A wiper motor may rotate the wiper and a sensor motor may rotate the sensor cover. The system wiper blade may comprise a first edge attached to the wiper support and a second edge which may be configured to be in contact with the sensor cover. The wiper blade may extend in a corkscrew shape around the wiper support. The wiper motor may be configured to rotate the wiper in a first direction and the sensor motor may be configured to rotate the sensor cover in a second direction opposite the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventor: Peter Craig Lombrozo
  • Patent number: 10300511
    Abstract: A clean method is configured for a surveillance camera. The surveillance camera comprises a mounting bracket and a main body which is rotatable relative to the mounting bracket so that the main body is rotatable around at least one rotation axis. The clean method includes the following steps. Drive the main body to rotate in a first path from a prepared position to an end of the first path, which is away from the prepared position, and to strike the mounting bracket to get the main body cleaned. Correct a relative position relationship between the main body and the mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: VIVOTEK INC.
    Inventor: Hsiang-Lin Hsu
  • Patent number: 10215334
    Abstract: A lubricating oil reservoir has an open end closed by a cap removably coupled to the open end. The cap is formed with a sensor located in the lubricating oil reservoir. The sensor is for sensing the presence of lubricating oil that fills the lubricating oil reservoir to a recommended oil level for providing machine lubrication, and the non-presence of lubricating oil that does not fill the lubricating oil reservoir to the recommended oil level, and a signal apparatus is operatively coupled to the sensor for issuing a first stimulus in response to the sensor sensing the presence of lubricating oil for identifying a normal lubricating oil level condition, and for issuing a second different stimulus in response to the sensor sensing the non-presence of lubricating oil for identifying a low oil level condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Inventor: Ronald J. Kile
  • Patent number: 9458965
    Abstract: A lubricating oil reservoir has an open end closed by a cap removably coupled to the open end. The cap is formed with a sensor located in the lubricating oil reservoir. The sensor is for sensing the presence of lubricating oil that fills the lubricating oil reservoir to a recommended oil level for providing machine lubrication, and the non-presence of lubricating oil that does not fill the lubricating oil reservoir to the recommended oil level, and a signal apparatus is operatively coupled to the sensor for issuing a first stimulus in response to the sensor sensing the presence of lubricating oil for identifying a normal lubricating oil level condition, and for issuing a second different stimulus in response to the sensor sensing the non-presence of lubricating oil for identifying a low oil level condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Inventor: Ronald J. Kile
  • Patent number: 9192966
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic device for washing continuous surfaces, such as solar thermal collectors, photovoltaic panels, continuous glazed building walls and similar surfaces, comprising at least one cleaning machine, at least one motor and a support. The cleaning machine includes a translation device that includes a torque shaft driven into rotation by the motor and connecting at least a first and a second translation unit arranged on the cleaning machine at the respective ends of the torque shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: WASHPANEL S.R.L.
    Inventor: Francesco Zanatta
  • Patent number: 8701240
    Abstract: A lens cleaning mechanism according to the present invention comprises: a cleaning unit (1a) that covers a standby area being a part of the surface of a front lens element (11), as the standby area is pressed, the cleaning unit (1a) being rotationally moved along the surface of the front lens element (11) to slide over the entire surface of the front lens element (11), including a remaining part of the surface and the standby area; a drive unit (3) connected to a holding member (1b); and a control unit (2) for rotationally moving the cleaning unit (1a) by driving the drive unit (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Display Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Okazawa, Takayuki Okada
  • Patent number: 8468636
    Abstract: Debris removal systems and methods are operable to remove debris, such as snow, from a surface. An exemplary embodiment has a wiper blade configured to remove debris from a surface in response to a movement of the wiper blade; a spring coupled to the wiper blade, wherein the spring is configured to store potential energy as the spring is biased from a relaxed position to a biased position; and a motor coupled to the spring, wherein the motor is configured to convert received electrical power into mechanical power that biases the spring. The spring is released from the biased position to release the stored potential energy as the spring returns to the relaxed position. The released potential energy from the spring is converted to mechanical energy that moves the wiper blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Eldon Technology Limited
    Inventors: Geoffrey Thompson, Andy Stanford
  • Patent number: 8397339
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a reference member cleaning device used in an optical detection unit causes a driving module to convey a reference member and to rotate a wipe-off member. The reference member cleaning device of the optical detection unit transmits the power of the driving module to both the wipe-off member and the reference member, in such a manner that the rotating direction of the wipe-off member and the conveying direction of the reference member are reversed at the position where the wipe-off member and the reference member come into contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Takuji Kato
  • Patent number: 8316504
    Abstract: A windshield roller assembly that may be retrofitted to existing wiper arms and that provides a rolling surface so that it is able to conform to surface irregularities and expel dirt and debris from low spots. The rolling surface avoids scraping the windshield glass and is not subject to the shear forces incurred by scraper type blades. The windshield roller is generally a simple cylindrical shape about a flexible shaft such as carbon fiber rod. The geometry of the roller is most typically an elongated frusto-conical shape so as to trace an arced path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Inventor: Jeff Pohlman
  • Patent number: 8234747
    Abstract: A vehicle windshield wiper blade having multiple cleaning elements which are rotatable to provide a new cleaning surface is herein disclosed. The wiper blade is arranged such that two (2) rubber blades and one (1) bristle brush are in contact with a windshield surface at all times during use. The wiper blade allows is rotatable and lockable in ninety degree (90°) increments as needed, thereby extending a useful life. The wiper blade is supported by a rod structure which is attached to an existing vehicle wiper arm in a conventional manner. As the wiper blade traverses the windshield, the brush scrubs the windshield, removing splattered and stuck-on debris, while the outer blades sweep water and residue away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Inventor: Harold D. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 8191199
    Abstract: Disclosed is a windshield wiper assembly capable of being mounted on an oscillating wiper mechanism of a vehicle. The windshield wiper assembly comprises a cleaning unit and a rotating mechanism. The cleaning unit comprises a wiper shaft and a plurality of cleaning implements detachably coupled to a peripheral surface of the wiper shaft. The rotating mechanism is coupled to the cleaning unit. The rotating mechanism is capable of rotating the cleaning unit in a manner such that a cleaning implement from the plurality of cleaning implements is selectively brought into contact with a windshield of the vehicle and configured to clean the windshield upon oscillating the cleaning unit over the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventor: Marsha Miller
  • Patent number: 8032976
    Abstract: A windshield wiper includes a scrubbing assembly attached to a wiper assembly. The wiper assembly includes a wiper blade attached to a wiper housing. The scrubbing assembly includes a scrubbing element having a central longitudinal axis and one or more turbines attached to the scrubbing element, the turbine(s) being configured to fluidly couple with a washer fluid line of a vehicle and to rotate the scrubbing element about the central longitudinal axis when wiper fluid flows through the turbine(s). The wiper fluid may be deposited on the scrubbing element after flowing through the turbine(s) and the scrubbing assembly can also include a shield. The scrubbing assembly can be rigidly secured to the wiper assembly or can be detachable therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Nelson and Nelson Enterprises, LLC
    Inventor: James Q. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8015651
    Abstract: A device (20) for cleaning surfaces is provided utilizing a web (94) of a tackified sheet material movably secured between rollers (56, 58) on the device (20) that enable the web (94) to be moved over the surface in opposite directions. The device (20) includes a supply roller (56) and a take-up roller (58) secured to opposed ends of the web (94) of adhesive sheet material, with at least one roller (56, 58) including a biasing mechanism (82) disposed within the roller (56, 58). The web (94) can be engaged with the surface by passing over a number of idler rollers (98) positioned between the supply roller (56) and take-up roller (58). The biasing mechanism (82) is designed to bias the movement of the web (94) onto the take-up roller (58), such that the mechanism (82) can be selectively operated to advance the web (94) from the supply roller (56) to the take-up roller (58) to expose a clean section of the adhesive sheet material (94).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy F. Knopow, Steven A. Zach, Michael J. Maloney, Jonathan M. Mick, Kevin L. Askling, Thomas A. Sutrina
  • Publication number: 20110154605
    Abstract: A windshield wiper includes a scrubbing assembly attached to a wiper assembly. The wiper assembly includes a wiper blade attached to a wiper housing. The scrubbing assembly includes a scrubbing element having a central longitudinal axis and one or more turbines attached to the scrubbing element, the turbine(s) being configured to fluidly couple with a washer fluid line of a vehicle and to rotate the scrubbing element about the central longitudinal axis when wiper fluid flows through the turbine(s). The wiper fluid may be deposited on the scrubbing element after flowing through the turbine(s) and the scrubbing assembly can also include a shield. The scrubbing assembly can be rigidly secured to the wiper assembly or can be detachable therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: Nelson and Nelson Enterprises, LLC
    Inventor: James Q. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7793377
    Abstract: A device (20) for cleaning surfaces is provided utilizing a web (94) of a tackified sheet material movably secured between rollers (56, 58) on the device (20) that enable the web (94) to be moved over the surface in opposite directions. The device (20) includes a supply roller (56) and a take-up roller (58) secured to opposed ends of the web (94) of adhesive sheet material, with at least one roller (56, 58) including a biasing mechanism (82) disposed within the roller (56, 58). The web (94) can be engaged with the surface by passing over a number of idler rollers (98) positioned between the supply roller (56) and take-up roller (58). The biasing mechanism (82) is designed to bias the movement of the web (94) onto the take-up roller (58), such that the mechanism (82) can be selectively operated to advance the web (94) from the supply roller (56) to the take-up roller (58) to expose a clean section of the adhesive sheet material (94).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy F. Knopow, Steven A. Zach, Michael J. Maloney, Jonathan M. Mick, Kevin L. Askling, Thomas A. Sutrina
  • Publication number: 20090064437
    Abstract: Disclosed is a windshield wiper assembly capable of being mounted on an oscillating wiper mechanism of a vehicle. The windshield wiper assembly comprises a cleaning unit and a rotating mechanism. The cleaning unit comprises a wiper shaft and a plurality of cleaning implements detachably coupled to a peripheral surface of the wiper shaft. The rotating mechanism is coupled to the cleaning unit. The rotating mechanism is capable of rotating the cleaning unit in a manner such that a cleaning implement from the plurality of cleaning implements is selectively brought into contact with a windshield of the vehicle and configured to clean the windshield upon oscillating the cleaning unit over the windshield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventor: Marsha Miller
  • Publication number: 20080314407
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and a device for cleaning of the optical face of a refractive element for a near field optical scanning apparatus. A magnetically susceptible cleaning material is used to facilitate effective cleaning of the refractive element without damage to the element. The method according to the invention can be combined with known cleaning methods if desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventors: Dominique Maria Bruls, Jacobus Maria Antonius Van Den Eerenbeemd, Franciscus Marinus Andrea Maria Van Gaal
  • Patent number: 7334288
    Abstract: A windshield wiper blade assembly having a plurality of wiper strips on a support, one of the wiper strips being normally positioned to engage a windshield while leaving non-engaged the remainder of the plurality of wiper strips, and rotation means for moving the engaged strip to a non-engaging position and for individually moving another of the plurality of the wiper strips to an engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Winding Wipers, Co.
    Inventors: Dana R. Rudd, Louis J. Sigalos, Charles G. Spriggs
  • Patent number: 7257855
    Abstract: A side window washing device has a washing unit positioned on each side of the side window and coupled to an interior section of a door frame of the vehicle. The washing unit is capable of dispensing a liquid and moving to clean the side window. A driving unit is coupled to the washing unit. The driving unit is used for dispensing the liquid through the washing unit and for moving the washing unit. A drying unit is positioned above each washing unit and coupled to the interior section of a door frame. The drying unit is used for removing any liquid remaining on the side window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Inventor: Kevin R. Mayo
  • Patent number: 6760950
    Abstract: An outer rear mirror for trucks and motor vehicles in general, provided with an automatic cleaning device, comprises an electric motor rotatively driving an endless worm, meshing with a gear wheel rigid with an elliptical cross-section element turning about a rotary shaft in turn supporting a cam member including a peripheral groove in which is engaged a drive bearing coupled to a telescopic rod sliding in a hollow cylinder, the outer rear mirror further including one or more mirror-like surface having different geometrical-optical characteristics, and a rear frame having a metal flange clamping member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Inventor: Ivo Lazzari
  • Patent number: 6425160
    Abstract: An intermittent driving apparatus for a rotary window cleaner comprises a first wiper (2) which is connected to a rotating shaft (10) of a first motor (8) and is rotatably disposed on a front window (1), a second wiper (3) which is connected to a rotating shaft (11) of a second motor (9) and is rotatably disposed on a front window (1) adjacently to the first wiper (2), and an electronic control circuit having brush boards (18, 20) of two motors connected to each other so that the second motor (9) is rotated at a predetermined time after the first motor (8) is rotated. The electronic control circuit includes a signal generating circuit (30) for repeatedly sending signals to the brush board (18) of the first motor (8) at fixed time intervals, and a brake mechanism for stopping the two wipers at the start position for a predetermined time every one rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Saito Motors Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shosaku Saito
  • Publication number: 20020038487
    Abstract: An outer rear mirror for trucks and motor vehicles in general, provided with an automatic cleaning device, comprises an electric motor rotatively driving an endless worm, meshing with a gear wheel rigid with an elliptical cross-section element turning about a rotary shaft in turn supporting a cam member including a peripheral groove in which is engaged a drive bearing coupled to a telescopic rod sliding in a hollow cylinder, the outer rear mirror further including one or more mirror-like surface having different geometrical-optical characteristics, and a rear frame having a metal flange clamping member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Inventor: Ivo Lazzari
  • Patent number: 6366044
    Abstract: A spindle and a position-limiting ridge protrude from an inner surface of a cover to rotatably support a follower made of an electrically conductive metal plate. A cylindrical engaging portion of the follower slidably engages the spindle. A toothed washer is fitted around the spindle to clamp a contact portion of the follower between the position-limiting ridge and the toothed washer in a rotatable manner. A switching pattern is provided in the inner surface of the cover. Contact terminals that engage and disengage with the switching pattern based on rotation of the follower are integrally formed in the follower. An engaging hole penetrates through the follower. An engaging protrusion on a carrier is received within the engaging hole. The follower is rotated through engagement between the engaging protrusion and the engaging hole when the carrier rotates in a forward rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Asmo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Okai, Toshio Yamamoto, Yasuaki Uchida
  • Publication number: 20020017004
    Abstract: In an illumination apparatus for emitting light generated by a luminous body to the outside through a probe 106, a wiper cover 110 is attached to a smoothly rotating rotary ring 108 such that a brush 112 comes into contact with the outer columnar face of a lamp cover constituted by the probe 106, a bottom cap 105, and a head cap 107. Also, a wind receiving member 113 is attached to the wiper cover 110 such that a wind receiving surface becomes a plane perpendicular to a moving direction of the wiper cover 110.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventor: Kenichi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 6338560
    Abstract: A self-cleaning, rotating mirror includes a compressor assembly mounted to a cylinder of a rotating mirror. As the cylinder and mirror rotate, the compressor assembly also rotates causing a continuous flow of clean air to be passed over the surface of the mirror, thereby preventing particles, such as dust, from depositing on the mirror surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Tufts University
    Inventors: Behrouz Abedian, Michael C. Swarden
  • Patent number: 6263537
    Abstract: A drive controlling apparatus for a rotary window cleaner comprises an elevating motor for moving up and down two wipers, which are provided on a front window so as to be close to each other, to a storage position and a start position, a first motor for rotating the first wiper at the start position, a second motor for rotating the second motor at the start position in a direction opposed to that of the first wiper, and an electronic control circuit to which each brush board of the elevating motor, the first motor and the second motor is connected so as to perform the upward and downward movement, the intermittent operation, the medium-speed operation and the high-speed operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Saito Motors Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shosaku Saito
  • Patent number: 6178587
    Abstract: A rotary window cleaner comprises a first wiper (2) and a second wiper (3) connected respectively to a rotating shaft (22) of a first motor (20) and a rotating shaft (25) of a second motor (21) which are arranged adjacently in series to each other, and said first wiper (2) and said second wiper (3) are rotatably disposed proximate with respect to each other on a window pane (1). The rotating shaft (22) of the first motor (20) is provided at one end with a movable gear (23) and the rotating shaft (25) of the second motor (21) has a fixed gear (28) mounted at one end opposite to the movable gear (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Saito Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shosaku Saito