Patents Assigned to SWF Auto-Electric
  • Patent number: 5090082
    Abstract: A windshield wiping device for swivelling windshields of motor vehicles. The device includes a wiper shaft, which is supported on the assembly adjacent to the swivel axis of the windshield, and a wiper arm projecting over the windshield. The arm includes an attachment part, by means of which it is attached to the wiper shaft, and a pivoting part which can be swivelled relative to the attachment part around a swivelling axis, and which, by means of an electrical motor is brought into a stopping position on the windshield, in which the electrical motor is independently switched off by means of a stopping position switch. In order to open the windshield without damage, in the stopping position, the swivelling axis, between the attachment part and the pivoting part of the wiper arm, is directed at least approximately in parallel to the swivelling axis of the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Alber, Reinhard Edele, Klaus Hauk, Michael Teich, Michael Schutze
  • Patent number: 5083243
    Abstract: A lamp for motor vehicles including a fog warning or backup lamp. The lamp comprises a lamp compartment which is covered by a transparent cover glass towards the front portion. A bulb projects into the lamp compartment from the back and a parabolic reflector diverts light from the bulb onto the cover glass. High light values are obtained even in the case of a small light transmitting surface at the front of the lamp compartment. This is achieved in that the cross-section of the lamp compartment is larger than the light transmitting surface at the front of the lamp compartment and that the bulb is partly surrounded by a ball reflector which is located outside the light transmitting surface. The center of the ball reflector is at least approximately identical with the filament of the bulb and the ball reflector casts light form the bulb onto the parabolic reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventors: Annerose Paulat, Hans-Joachim Wirth
  • Patent number: 5077701
    Abstract: This invention relates to a distance measuring device, in particular for motor vehicles, in which a converter is utilized for transmission of an ultrasonic signal and also for reception of the echo signal. Thereby the echo signal received by the converter is compared at a comparator with a threshold value after having been appropriately amplified. This threshold value is at a particular changeover time changed over from a first high value, which is independent of time, to a smaller, time-dependent value. Thereby the changeover time is computed from a measured time depending on the dying-out behavior of the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventor: Anton Lill
  • Patent number: 5074471
    Abstract: A windshield cleaning system with a spraying device is described, in which windshield cleaning system a jet element made of an elastic material is carried in an adjustable jet body formed in the shape of a ball. The jet element is formed with elastic lips forming a spraying mouth which is normally closed and which is located outside of the jet body. The spraying mouth is opened by the pressure of the washing liquid. With such an arrangement the direction of the spraying jet can be adjusted and the washing liquid is prevented from freezing due to the fact that the spraying mouth can be closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Baumgarten, Reinhard Edele, Bruno Egner-Walter, Eckhardt Schmid
  • Patent number: 5063317
    Abstract: An electric motor, especially an electric, small-power motor for driving wiper systems of motor vehicles, in which an electronics housing (50) is arranged beside a motor housing (10) by affixing the electronics housing to a central bulge (13) on the bottom (12) of the motor housing (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Bruhn
  • Patent number: 5046216
    Abstract: This invention describes a windshield wiper system comprising a windshield wiper which may be linerarly driven to and fro by means of a driving member extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the windshield wiper. The driving member is guided in a frame from which projects a carrier for the windshield wiper. In the emergence area of the carrier from the frame there is provided a hollow-cylindrical seal of elastic material, which seal is diametrically penetrated by the carrier. The carrier and the driving member are thus protected against weather influences, because in the seal there is sort of an air cushion. If required the seal can due to its shape without any problem serve as a real heating hose and/or as a discharge hose for condensation water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Baungarter, Bruno Egner-Walter, Hans Prohaska, Eckhardt Schmid, Melitta Teutsch
  • Patent number: 5023972
    Abstract: A spare wiper element for a wiper blade and a method for the assembly of the spare wiper element. The spring bars are held in lateral grooves of a wiper rubber basic body and are secured by holding clamps lapping over the basic body of the wiper rubber during the assembly with the supporting yoke system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Assignee: SWF-Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventors: Kurt Bauer, Eckhardt Schmid
  • Patent number: 5023532
    Abstract: A drive mechanism for windshield wiper systems on motor vehicles comprises a d.c. motor to be driven in at least two different speeds of operation. The motor includes a collector, a first and a second carbon brush substantially resting against the collector diametrically opposite each other, and a third carbon brush which rests against the collector between the first and the second carbon brush. The third carbon brush is set off at a particular angle relative to the second carbon brush. When the d.c. motor is operated in the first speed of operation the first and the second carbon brush is connected to the voltage source and when the d.c. motor is operated in the second speed of operation the first and the third carbon brush is connected to a voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Gakenholz
  • Patent number: 4991251
    Abstract: This invention relates to a wiper arm with the possibility of adjusting its contact pressure, wherein the link may be brought into a stable tilted position. Upon tilting the point of application of the wiper arm pressure spring on this side of the fastening member is displaced in the direction of the articulated axle between wiper arm fastening member and wiper arm link in a manner that the perpendicular spacing between the line of application of the pressure spring and the articulated axle is diminished. This is why a small tilting angle can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventors: Bruno Egner-Walter, Eckhardt Schmid, Wolfgang Scholl
  • Patent number: 4992671
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for at least one electric load of a motor vehicle such as a windshield wiper system is disclosed, in which the switching signals of an operating switch of the system are in a coded manner transmitted to a programming unit which a detector with several ranges of detection for the various coded switching signals. The detector has additional ranges of detection for switching signals not associated with particular modes of operation, so that troubles in the system can be recognized by the detector in the programming unit providing for improved system operational reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventors: Gunther Gille, Horst Goertler, Horst Rachner
  • Patent number: 4979259
    Abstract: This invention describes a so-called reciprocating wiper system having a guide housing moving pendulum fashion and a wiper arm guided therein and radially retractable and extractable, wherein by various measures the volume of the guide housing is changed as compared to known embodiments and thus adapted to the space conditions in the engine compartment of a motor vehicle, wherein because of a change in the volume a lengthening of the wiper blade and thus an enlargement of the wiping area is made possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventors: Bruno Egner-Walter, Eckhardt Schmid, Wolfgang Scholl
  • Patent number: 4949422
    Abstract: This invention relates to a connecting member for a wiper blade and a wiper arm including a plastic structural member and a metallic locking spring. The structural member has a bearing bore as a receiver for a pivot pin. The locking spring is retained at a first end portion and intersects the bearing bore and acts upon the pivot pin by means of its center area. A second end portion of the spring forms a release key positioned behind the bearing bore. The release key of the locking spring is covered by a wing which is intergrally formed as part of the wall of the structural member by means of a film hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventors: Kurt Bauer, Eckhardt Schmid
  • Patent number: 4947508
    Abstract: This invention describes a wiper arm, which in the receiving area (19, 14, 15) for the swivelling axis (18) between fastening member (10) and link (11) has a recess (40, 43), which permits a dipping of the spring holding yoke (30) into the swivelling axis receiving area (19, 14, 15) for achieving a stable tilted position (A) of the link (11). Thereby a low mode of construction of the wiper arm can be adhered to. In a preferred embodiment there is provided a hole-shaped recess (40) in a rolled bearing bush (19). which otherwise extends round and along the entire swivelling axis (18) thereby ensuring in addition a good guidance of the swivelling axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventors: Kurt Bauer, Hans Prohaska, Eckhardt Schmid
  • Patent number: 4920239
    Abstract: In the switch housing of an electric switch a carrier is pivotally mounted between a housing cover plate and an intermediate cover plate by a pivot pin and a bearing bore. The switch lever of the switch can also be rotated about its longitudinal axis independently of the carrier and/or be rotated about an axis which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the carrier. A linearly movable slide is positioned between a housing base plate and the intermediate cover plate. The slide is adjusted by a movement of the switch lever which is independent of a carrier movement. In order to achieve this in a space-saving and simple way the pivot pin which acts as the carrier bearing in the intermediate cover plate is a hollow pin coupling the switch lever with the slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Buhler, Herbert Erdelitsch, Walter Hecht, Horst Rachner
  • Patent number: 4916269
    Abstract: An electric switch having a housing including a base plate, the switch comprising a push-button which is preferably movable in a linear direction with respect to the housing, a switching tappet movable by the push-button and swivellable relative to the switching tappet and a switching rocker rotatably mounted on the base plate, the rocker being swivellable to and fro in turns between two end positions via the push-button and the switching tappet and controlling a movable bridging contact, especially a snap-action spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventors: Hubert Spazierer, Adam Weber
  • Patent number: 4896067
    Abstract: A brush mounting plate for an electric motor is formed as a one piece element molded from a suitable electrically non conductive material. The plate is formed with various openings, recesses and lugs on its opposed faces which serve to mount and locate components such as brush holders, inductors, and thermo switches in a compact arrangement with various components assembled to opposite faces of the plate in a stacked relationship axially of the plate. The lugs are so arranged as to enable a snap fit assembly of the inductor and thermo switches on to the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Walther
  • Patent number: 4893374
    Abstract: In a windshield wiper system a washing liquid channel runs through a bore in the wiper shaft and extends through a bore in the cap of a wiper arm, so that in the operating position of the cap the nozzle is arranged on that side of the cap which is opposite a fastening member, so that, in comparison with prior constructions, good cleaning effect is achieved due to an enlarged spacing between nozzle and window pane to be cleaned. So that the protruding nozzle body does not impede swivelling of the cap, the bore in the cap is larger than the outer diameter of the nozzle body and the annular gap between the rim of the bore in the cap and the nozzle body may be closed by an additional cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Bienert, Bernd Walther
  • Patent number: 4885512
    Abstract: A wiper system for motor vehicles. The wiper system has a switching circuit which derives from a timing signal, time-dependent switching and controlling signals provided by an oscillator that determines for example the duration of the intervals in an intermittent mode of operation or the reference time span for implementing anti-blocking protection of the wiper motor. The timing frequency of this oscillator is kept constant during the intervals in the intermittent mode of operation, otherwise it varies depending on the battery voltage when the wiper motor is operating. The intervals are thus maintained with precision, whereas the reference time span is adapted to the wiping time that changes as a function of the battery voltage when the motor is operating, thus ensuring optimal anti-blocking protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventors: Gunther Gille, Horst Goertler
  • Patent number: 4882457
    Abstract: A steering column switch for motor vehicles comprises a switch member guiding the bridging contact and being swivellably located around an axis. The stationary contacts, however, acted upon by this bridging contact are arranged along a straight line and in a plane repsectively in parallel to the axis of rotation of the switch member. The bridging contact is not directly guided by the switch member, but by a switching arm substantially radially swivellable in relation to the switch member so that the bridging contact is movable along a staight line despite the circular movement of the switch member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Erdelitsch, Otto Machalitzky, Horst Rachner
  • Patent number: 4879783
    Abstract: As to a reciprocating stroke wiper system for motor vehicles with a piston movably guided in a housing a projecting arm unrotatably fixed to the piston and comprising a guiding fork is provided as a protection against twisting, which projecting arm is guided along a guiding element fixed to the housing. According to the invention a rod with circular cross-section is used as a guiding element, which rod is arranged at an angle towards the axis of the piston so that the guiding areas of the guiding rod and of the guiding fork touching each other are displaced crosswise to them during the motion so that the effective guiding area is enlarged and thus wear is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1989
    Assignee: ITT SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventors: Bruno Egner-Walter, Eckhardt Schmid, Wolfgang Scholl