Technical field

The invention relates to a process and an apparatus of dispensing, mixing and transferring operations, by simultaneous supplying cycles, with windshield liquid from a station of storage and mixing in the reservoir of windshield liquid of motor vehicles and in a removable storage container, by direct and tight coupling. Also, the apparatus is adapted for supplying reservoirs of windshield liquid with windshield liquid by means of an adaptable coupling device or integral with the reservoir and of a supplying system through the motor vehicle body.

The invention applies in any industrial or nonindustrial field regardless the type of liquid dispensed, mixed and transferred, such as: automotive industry, aeronautic industry, naval industry, petrochemical industry, agriculture, etc. By this process and by means of this apparatus the time for supplying the reservoirs of windshield liquid of vehicles improved, so that the supplying time is reduced, the current process for supplying manually-mechanically is simplified, it is ensured a better hygiene during the supplying process, it increases the accuracy of the supplying operation of a reservoir of windshield liquid concurrently with the possibility of supplying a removable storage container of reserve.

Background art

In general, vehicles of any nature are provided with a reservoir of windshield liquid for storing a limited quantity of solution for cleaning the windshield, adequate to the environment of exploitation, including the temperature of the surrounding environment. After the exhaustion of the content of the reservoir of windshield liquid it is necessary the supplying thereof with a new quantity of windshield solution.

Supplying the reservoir of windshield liquid can be made by transferring the content of a container with windshield solution bought in a shop in the reservoir of windshield liquid of the vehicle or by going to a station of dispensing windshield solution.

In automotive industry field, there are known more methods for supplying the reservoir of windshield liquid.

US Patent no.5823402, published on 20 October 1998, relates to a fluid dispensing system for transferring a fluid from a container to a reservoir which includes a container, a pump and an intake hose and an outlet hose coupled to a pump. The pump and the intake hose are positioned in the container and the outlet hose exits through a container cap which is fixed on the neck of the container. The fluid dispensing system according to US Patent no. 5823402 can be used for transferring the wiper solution from the container of the dispensing system or from another existing container to the reservoir of windshield liquid located beneath the hood of a motor vehicle.

In the US Patent no. 6910509, published on 28 June 2005, it is described a windshield washer liquid dispenser apparatus which comprises a base housing, a means to access in the interior space of the base housing, a power source capable of rendering electric current to operate the apparatus, a liquid container within the interior space capable of containing a supply of windshield washer liquid, an intake line, a discharge line, a liquid pump assembly configurable to refill the contents of the liquid container or discharge the content of the liquid container and a means for authorizing use of the windshield washer liquid dispenser.

US Patent no. 5497914 published on 12 March 1996 relates to a car care self-service device capable of carrying out a plurality of car care operations. The device comprises a plurality of spray guns for spraying care products by means of compressed air, each spray gun being associated with a reservoir of compressed air, a supply tank for the corresponding care product and a mixing device, to the latter of which the spray gun is connected.

Nevertheless, all these methods carry out a supplying which requires a significant effort both for the final user and from the point of view of operating, handling, management, caring, controlling, etc., of the apparatus.

The prior art does not provide a process and an apparatus of simultaneously dispensing, mixing and transferring liquids, with supplying by simultaneous cycles, by direct and tight coupling and direct mixing in the feeder-selector, respectively in the transferring zone according to the present invention.

Disclosure of invention

The technical problem which is solved by the process of simultaneously dispensing, mixing and transferring liquids and the apparatus for the application of the process along with the components thereof, according to the invention, consists in supplying by simultaneous cycles, with windshield liquid in the reservoir of windshield liquid of motor vehicles, concurrently with supplying a removable storage container by direct and tight coupling, as well as, by direct mixing in a feeder-selector, a concentrated solution of windshield liquid, at the choice, with filtered water, respectively in the transferring zone. The apparatus according to the invention is provided with a water storage tank, tanks of concentrated solution, a tank with antifreeze solution, one or more mobile feeder- selectors, one or more fixed feeder-selectors, removable storage containers, a pipe of filtered water, pipes of compressed air, connecting pipes, classical elements of operating an apparatus and system for management, command and control. The apparatus according to the invention is adapted to couple with the reservoir of liquid of a motor vehicle by means of an adaptable coupling device, by lifting the hood of the motor vehicle or by a coupling system through the motor vehicle body.

The process of simultaneously dispensing, mixing and transferring liquids, according to the invention, consists, in the first step, in simultaneously coupling a mobile feeder- selector with an adaptable coupling device of a reservoir of windshield liquid by lifting the hood of a vehicle or by means of a supplying system directly through the vehicle body and of a removable storage container with a fixed feeder-selector; in a second step there is selected the type of concentrated solution desired by means of the mobile, respectively fixed feeder-selectors; in the third step there is selected the mode of opening the supplying, with withholding or without withholding, and there is started the flow of the filtered water and of concentrated solution for each mobile and respectively fixed feeder- selector; in the fourth step there is ensured the mixing of water and concentrated solution directly in the mixing chambers of the mobile and fixed feeder-selectors, respectively in the zone of transferring and coupling; in the fifth step there is carried out the transferring of the windshield solution until the complete filling in of the reservoir of windshield solution, respectively of the removable storage container, after which the apparatus stops automatically due to the overflow warning detector.

The concentrated solutions used according to the invention are solutions with different chemical compositions and flavors usually used for the preparation of the solutions for supplying reservoirs of windshield liquids as well as for cleaning and caring the windshield.

The choice of the opening mode for supplying, from the third step of the process, with withholding or without withholding, depends on the option of the user.

Thus, if the user wants to control manually the operation of supplying with windshield solution, he will choose to act permanently on the ring of command, without withholding thereof in a fixed pre-established position.

If to the contrary, the user wants that the operation of supplying with windshield solution to be proceeded automatically, without being necessary his intervention, he will choose to act the ring of command with withholding thereof in the fixed pre-established position. By using the process and the apparatus of simultaneously dispensing, mixing and transferring liquids there are obtained the following advantages:

- There is achieved a supplying by simultaneous cycles with windshield solution both of a reservoir of windshield liquid of a motor vehicle and of a removable storage container; - The time for supplying the reservoirs of windshield liquid of motor vehicles is reduced;

- The accuracy of supplying operations by directly and tightly coupling with the reservoir of windshield liquid is increased;

- It is obtained ergonomics in handling;

- It is obtained a low cost of production and sale of the windshield liquid;

- It is obtained an increase of quality of the product and related services offered;

- Supplying with windshield liquid is carried out automated and controlled without spillage or leakage;

- It can be selected the type of desired solution from several variants, offering variety;

- It provides the possibility of simultaneously supplying, multiple users can concurrently supply from the same apparatus;

- The access to the reservoir of windshield liquid of the motor vehicle is made directly through the motor vehicle body, lifting the hood of a motor vehicle not being necessary;

- It provides a degree of progress, ergonomics, innovation and optimization of production costs, motor vehicles following to be equipped with a new type of reservoir of windshield liquid with an integrated system of direct and tight coupling to the apparatus.

- As a side benefit, it creates a strong environmental impact, in that there are not used anymore and discharged as rubbish large amounts of PET type containers, as well as other type of containers, commonly used in the market for the distribution of windshield liquid.

Brief description of drawings

The present invention is described with reference to the attached drawings and presented as follows:

Figure 1 is a general view of the apparatus of dispensing, mixing and transferring liquids. Figure 2 is a general of the feeder selector with the ring 1 of command at step 5 of selection.

Figure 3 is a view of the removable container G.

Figure 4a presents the operation of transferring the windshield solution in the reservoir of windshield liquid K by means of the mobile feeder-selector and with access through the supplying system I through the vehicle body. Figure 4b presents the operation of transferring the windshield solution in the reservoir of windshield liquid K by means of the removable storage container G and with access through the supplying system I through the vehicle body.

Figure 4c presents the operation of transferring the windshield solution in the reservoir of windshield liquid K by means of the removable storage container G, under continuous flow, when this is coupled with the mobile feeder-selector E.

Figure 4d presents the operation of transferring the windshield solution in the reservoir of windshield liquid K by means of the removable storage container G.

Figure 5a is a view of the adaptable device H with multiple diameters (12) mounted in the supplying hole of the reservoir of windshield liquid.

Figure 5b is a view of the adaptable device H with a single diameter (11 ) mounted in the lid of the supplying hole of the reservoir of windshield liquid.

Figure 6 is a view of the mobile feeder-selector E having attached a cleaning scraper. Mode for carrying out the invention

It is further given an example for carrying out the invention, in connection also with figure 1 which is a general view of the apparatus of simultaneously dispensing, mixing and transferring liquids according to the invention.

The apparatus of simultaneously dispensing, mixing and transferring liquids according to the invention is provided with a water tank A, tanks B, C, D of concentrated solution, a tank J of antifreeze solution, a mobile feeder-selector E, a fixed feeder-selector F, a removable storage container G, the pipe L of filtered water, the pipe M of compressed air and pipes N of connecting.

The apparatus is adapted to couple with a reservoir K of windshield liquid, by means of an adaptable coupling device H, accessible by lifting the hood of a vehicle or by a supplying system I through the motor vehicle body.

The mobile feeder-selector E and the fixed feeder-selector F are provided with the ring 1 of command, a recess in the body of the ring 1 of alveolar shape, referred as alveolus 2 of maneuvering and command, steps 3, 4, 5 of selection of the desired concentrated solution, a mixing chamber 6, a coupling jack 7, a handle 8 of maneuvering. The removable storage container G is provided with an outlet valve 9, an intake valve 10 and the angle β of retreat of at least 5°. The reservoir K of windshield liquid is provided, at the part of supplying with the system of coupling I directly through the vehicle body. The water tank A is supplied through the pipe L of filtered water and serves to store a constant amount of filtered water needed for mixing and dispensing the solution of windshield liquid; at the lower part, the water tank A is provided with a pipe N of connecting which is connected with the mobile feeder-selector E and the fixed feeder- selector F. The evacuation of the filtered water from the water tank A is performed pneumatically, controlled by a compressor type system, through the pipe M of compressed air connected to the upper part of the tank.

Tanks B, C, D of concentrated solution store different concentrated solution needed to achieve the windshield solution, at the choice, each tank B, C, D of concentrated solution has a pipe N of connecting which is connected with the steps 3, 4, 5 of selection of the mobile feeder-selector E, respectively of the fixed feeder-selector F. The evacuation of the concentrated solution from the tanks B, C, D of concentrated solution is achieved pneumatically, controlled by a compressor type system through the pipe M of compressed air connected to the upper part of the tanks.

The mobile feeder-selector E has a role of selecting a concentrated solution, generating mixing thereof with the filtered water and a role to command the transfer of the windshield solution obtained in the reservoir K of windshield liquid. The mobile feeder-selector E of figure 2 comprises a ring 1 of command, an alveolus 2 of maneuvering and command, steps 3, 4, 5 of selection, a mixing chamber 6, a coupling jack 7, a handle 8 of maneuvering. The ring 1 of command has double functioning, in the first phase the ring 1 of command slides axially and thus it is made the selection of a single concentrated solution corresponding to one of the steps 3, 4, 5 of selection, then the ring 1 of command rotates radially left/right and opens the flow of filtered water concurrently with the concentrated solution both penetrating in the mixing chamber 6 where it is achieved the mixing resulting the windshield solution as final product. The windshield solution is discharged through the coupling jack 7 in the reservoir K of windshield liquid. The alveolus 2 of maneuvering and command has a role of support for maneuvering and control benchmark when the ring 1 of command is driven in radial plan. The radial command has two opening modes, with withholding or without withholding. According to the example, by rotating the ring 1 of command to the left side it is obtained the flow automatically, with withholding, and by rotating the ring 1 of command to the right side it is achieved the flow manually, without withholding. The ring 1 of command can take over the color corresponding to each of the steps 3, 4, 5 of selection to simplify choosing the desired windshield solution. The mobile feeder-selector E is provided with a detector of overflow which stops the flow both of the filtered water and of the concentrated solution when the reservoir K of the windshield liquid or the removable storage recipient G are fully filled in irrespective the operating mode, with or without withholding. The fixed feeder-selector F has a role of transferring/supplying, in a simultaneous cycle with supplying the reservoir of windshield liquid carried out with the mobile feeder-selector E, with a windshield solution to the removable storage and supplying container G, its functioning and components being the same as for the mobile feeder-selector E.

The removable storage container G presented in figure 3 has a role of storing a quantity of reserve of a solution of windshield liquid or/and for supplying in a continuous/ discontinuous flow of the reservoir K of windshield liquid. The removable storage container G has a constructive shape so as to allow transferring irrespective of the position of the reservoir K of windshield liquid, the level of the supplying hole of the reservoir K of windshield liquid in the engine compartment and the opening angle of the hood. The removable storage container G is provided at the end with minimal section with an outlet valve 9 and at the opposite end with an intake valve 10. The outlet valve 9 allows coupling the removable storage container G with the adaptable coupling device H in respect of the transferring operation of the windshield solution in the reservoir K of windshield liquid (fig.4.d) and/or with access through the supplying system I through the vehicle body (fig.4.b). The intake valve 10 allows transferring the windshield liquid in the removable storage container G when this is coupled to the fixed feeder-selector F or in continuous flow, when this is coupled to the mobile feeder-selector E (fig. 4.c). The removable storage container G has on the side part substantially vertical, a shape partially inclined from the vertical towards the axis given by the outlet valve 9 with an angle β of retreat of at least 15° which allows the access in respect of the transferring operation irrespective of the opening angle of the hood.

The point of inclination of the side part substantially vertical of the removable storage container G is located so as when supplying the reservoir K of windshield liquid with access by lifting the hood of the motor vehicle, coupling the removable storage container G to the reservoir K of windshield liquid not to be hindered by the angle of inclination of the vehicle hood.

The removable storage container G can be provided with an actuator for opening the outlet valve 9 in case it is supplied a classical reservoir of windshield liquid.

The adaptable coupling device H enables modular adaptation depending on the type and size of the supplying hole of classical reservoirs of windshield liquid. The adaptable coupling device H allows tight coupling with the coupling jack 7 of the mobile feeder- selector E or with the outlet valve 9 of the removable storage container G in order to transfer the windshield solution in the reservoir K of windshield liquid. The adaptable coupling device H with multiple diameters 12 (fig. 5a), is mounted directly in the supplying hole of classical reservoirs of windshield liquid. The adaptable coupling device H with single diameter 11 (fig.5b) can be incorporated in the supplying lid x in case of classical reservoirs of windshield liquid.

The supplying system I through the vehicle body allows the access and the coupling of the mobile feeder-selector E (fig.4.a) or of the removable storage container G (fig.4.b) with the adaptable coupling device H directly through the vehicle body, in order to transfer the windshield solution in the reservoir K of windshield liquid without opening the hood of the engine compartment. The supplying system I through the vehicle body can be of a visiting window type with clamshell or another option and it is positioned on the vehicle body depending on the location of the reservoir K of windshield liquid.

The tank J of antifreeze solution has a role of storing antifreeze solution which releases in the water tank A only when the ambient temperature decreases around the frost value. Releasing the antifreeze solution in the water tank A is automatically managed by the apparatus, without the intervention of the final user. The evacuation of the antifreeze solution from the tank J of antifreeze solution is achieved pneumatically through the pipe M of compressed air connected to the side part of the tank.

In another constructive embodiment the reservoir K of windshield liquid is a new type of reservoir of windshield liquid which has integrated the adaptable coupling device H and compared to the classical variant, it has not a closing lid of the supplying hole. Supplying the reservoir K of windshield liquid is carried out directly and tightly with the mobile feeder- selector E or with the removable storage container G with or without access through the supplying system I through the vehicle body. The reservoir K of windshield liquid has a role of storage and dispensing the windshield solution through the washer system of the motor vehicle.

The pipe L of filtered water supplies with filtered water, the water tank A.

The pipe M of compressed air supplies with compressed air the water tank A, tanks B, C, D of concentrated solution and the tank J of antifreeze solution for the evacuation of the liquids from these tanks.

The pipes N of connecting makes the connection between each tank B, C, D of concentrated solution with the steps 3, 4, 5 of selection as appropriate depending on the type of windshield solution and of the water tank A with the mobile feeder-selector E, respectively with the fixed feeder-selector F.

The compressed air required for operating the apparatus is provided by a compressor type unit which is powered by electricity produced by photovoltaic panels, by classical electrical network or by any other possible option. The apparatus of simultaneously dispensing, mixing and transferring can incorporate some accessories such as a connection for compressed air for the operation of inflating vehicle tires.

The mobile feeder-selector E allows the mounting by means of the coupling jack 7 some removable accessories such as a scraper 14 with nozzles (figure 6) for cleaning the windshield, headlights, etc.

The scraper 14 with nozzles is provided with releasing holes 15 which enable spraying the windshield liquid in the form of a uniform jet (liquid curtain) for cleaning manually the windshield, headlights, etc.

The entire operating of the apparatus is supported by means of a custom software system.

The system of management, command and control of the apparatus has the following characteristics:

- It controls the flow rates, flow directions

- It regulates and controls the dosage

- It manages and administers the amount of concentrated solution

- It manages and administers the amount and the level of filtered water in the water tank

- It manages and administers the amount of antifreeze agent released in the filtered water

- It regulates the pressure of the compressed air supplied by the compressor type unit - It records and counts the amounts of windshield solution transferred

- It processes and transmits information to the collection unit

- It allows a dynamic intervention, in real time, on the apparatus components by means of a web-based interface type

- It manages communication with each apparatus of dispensing, mixing and transferring from network, via internet

- It adjusts the functioning parameters of the apparatus related to flow rates, pressures

- It provides with detailed reports on functional and commercial parameters

- It contains a support module with communication interface (via email, phone, live-chat, video chat, sms, etc.)