Patents Assigned to Sprague Controls, Inc.
  • Patent number: 5796344
    Abstract: An imminent icing condition enunciator employs an infrared sensor with a focusing element to receive ambient infrared energy from a surface, particularly a road surface, and the output of the sensor is processed to provide an indication of imminent icing to the operator of, for example, an automobile or other vehicle. The device is suitably mounted to a vehicle, within a mirror enclosure so as to provide an unobstructed view of the roadway surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Sprague Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne L. Mann, Norman J. Petersen
  • Patent number: 5657929
    Abstract: Liquid and air outlet nozzle assemblies are capable of mounting on a vehicle adjacent the headlights and are positioned such that liquid and air jets from the nozzles intersect prior to engaging the headlight to form a spray mixture that cleans the headlight. The nozzle assemblies are associated with a control valve capable of connection in a pressurized air system on the vehicle and in the pressurized washer system for the windshield wipers and also capable of automatically directing liquid from the vehicle washer system and pressurized air on the vehicle to the liquid and air nozzles to form a headlight cleaning function upon manual activation of the pressurized windshield washer system of the vehicle. An embodiment of the nozzle assembly has an extension and retraction piston for extending nozzle openings toward the headlight in operation condition of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Sprague Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. DeWitt, Dennis R. Partlow