Navistar International Transportation Corporation

James L Roussey

Merrill D Miller

W Thomas Irick

Gregory S Didier

James H King

Wayne F Bultemeier

An electric heating grid extends from the middle of one side of the windshield, down that side to the bottom of the windshield, and from there across the bottom to the opposite side. The grid is operated by a control circuit having an on-off switch that is accessible to the vehicle operator. The control circuit includes a switch for sensing ambient outdoor temperature so as to allow the grid to be operated only when the outdoor temperature is below a threshold that distinguishes wintertime from non-wintertime conditions.

Continuous duty direct current heated windshield with ambient

A daytime running light circuit is integrated with the existing headlight circuit of an automotive vehicle. The daytime running light circuit functions to automatically illuminate the headlights at reduced intensity when the vehicle is running and the headlight switch is turned off. Any time, however, that the headlight switch is turned on, the headlights are illuminated at full intensity. The daytime running light circuit includes a day relay and a night relay. The night relay is responsive to the headlight switch being turned on for preventing operation of the daytime relay which would otherwise illuminate the headlamps at reduced intensity if the vehicle were running and the headlight switch off. When the headlight switch is off, the night relay enables the day relay to be operated whenever the vehicle is running. Indication that the vehicle is running is obtained from the alternator 'R' terminal. The alternator 'R' terminal signal may be further conditioned by sensing the status of one or more devices on the vehicle, such as the parking brakes or transmission, so that the day relay is operated by the alternator 'R' terminal voltage signal only if all these one or more other devices indicate that the vehicle is not incapable of motion.

Automotive vehicle daytime running light circuit

A daytime running light circuit is integrated with the existing headlight circuit of an automotive vehicle. The daytime running light circuit functions to automatically illuminate the headlights at reduced intensity when the vehicle is running and the headlight switch is turned off. Any time, however, that the headlight switch is turned on, the headlights are illuminated at full intensity. The daytime running light circuit comprises a day relay and a night relay. The night relay is responsive to the headlight switch being turned on for preventing operation of the daytime relay which would otherwise illuminate the headlamps at reduced intensity if the vehicle were running and the headlight switch off. When the headlight switch is off, the night relay enables the day relay to be operated whenever the vehicle is running. Indication that the vehicle is running is obtained from the alternator 'R' terminal. The alternator 'R' terminal signal may be further conditioned by sensing the status of one or more devices on the vehicle, such as the parking brakes or transmission, so that the day relay is operated by the alternator 'R' terminal voltage signal only if all these one or more other devices indicate that the vehicle is not incapable of motion.

A failure warning device is provided for use with an auxiliary pump unit made ready by either an ignition-on signal or a brake-on signal and activated by a pump-failure signal. The failure warning device has a monitor circuit coupled to a warning circuit. For maintaining reliability of the auxiliary pump unit, the module circuitry is wired as a monitor not including circuit components of the auxiliary pump unit. It has a first input coupled to a common ready signal produced by the pump unit and a second input coupled to a motor terminal of the pump unit. The monitor circuit responds to failure-related states of the ready signal and the motor terminal impedance and voltage by generating an anomaly signal. The alarm circuit switches on an alarm, such as a buzzer and light, when it receives both the ignition-on and anomaly signals. The monitor circuit can include a circuit for generating the anomaly signal when a comparator detects a difference between the brake-on signal and a simultaneously activated brake stop light signal. The monitor can also include a circuit to activate the alarm if a brake circuit detector senses a brake circuit failure.

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Fort Wayne, IN, United States of America

James L Roussey