Fluid heater

• US 20030141381A1
• Filed: 01/29/2002
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems Incorporated (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems Incorporated (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Harris, Daryl G., Bissonnette, Lee A., Pattison, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,912,357 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/132
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/24 incorporating means for heating the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. electrically
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/488 electrically
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/121 using electric energy supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6606 With electric heating element

Abstract

A fluid heater apparatus supplies heat to wash fluid via a continuous, labyrinthian flow path in a thermally conductive body. A heat source is disposed in the thermally conductive body for imparting heat to the body. Fluid flowing through the thermally conductive body substantially envelopes the heat source to absorb heat from the body.

Claims

1. A heater apparatus for heating fluid, the heater apparatus comprising:

a thermally conductive mass;

heating means, thermally coupled to the thermally conductive mass, for imparting heat to the thermally conductive mass; and

a continuous labyrinthian fluid flow path formed in the mass between an inlet and an outlet, the fluid flow path substantially enveloping the heating means to absorb heat from the thermally conductive mass as fluid flows through the fluid flow path between the inlet and the outlet.

2. The heater apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fluid flow path defines a spirally shaped fluid flow path.

3. The heater apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fluid flow path comprises:

a first flow path portion extending across one surface of the thermally conductive mass; and

a second flow path portion extending across an opposed surface of the thermally conductive mass, the first and second flow path portions disposed in fluid flow communication.

4. The heater apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first and second flow path portions are disposed in fluid flow communication substantially at the center of the thermally conductive mass.

5. The heater apparatus of claim 3 wherein:

the first flow path defines a spiral flow path extending radially inward from an inlet to a bore connecting the first flow path to the second flow path; and

the second flow path defines a spirally shaped fluid flow path extending radially outward from the bore connecting the first flow path to the second flow path to the outlet.

6. The heater apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heating means comprises:

at least one heater element mounted in the mass.

7. The heater apparatus of claim 6 wherein the heating means comprises:

a plurality of heater elements mounted in the mass.

8. The heater apparatus of claim 7 further comprising:

a controller for controlling the individual activation of each of the heater elements.

9. The heater apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heating means comprises:

a calrod.

10. The heater apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heating means is disposed in the thermally conductive mass and substantially encompassed by the fluid flow path.

11. The heater apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heating means comprises:

a thick film heater element.

12. The heater apparatus claim 1 further comprising:

a controller for controlling the activation of the heating means.

13. The heater apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the fluid flow path defines a spirally shaped fluid flow path wherein concentric flow portions of the fluid flow path are disposed adjacent to each other and separated by a wall of the thermally conductive mass.

14. A heater apparatus for heating fluid, the heater apparatus comprising:

a thermally conductive mass;

a continuous labyrinthian fluid flow path formed of a first flow path portion extending across one surface of the thermally conductive mass and a second flow path portion extending across an opposed surface of the thermally conductive mass, the first and second flow path portions disposed in fluid flow communication through the thermally conductive mass; and

at least one heating element thermally mounted in the thermally conductive mass and substantially enveloped by the first and second flow path portions, the heating means imparting heat to the thermally conductive mass so that fluid flowing through the first and second flow path portions absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass.

15. The heater apparatus of claim 14 wherein:

the first flow path defines a spiral shaped flow path extending radially inward from an inlet to a bore connecting the first flow path to the second flow path; and

the second flow path defines a spirally shaped fluid flow path extending radially outward from the bore connecting the first flow path to the second flow path to the outlet.

16. The heater apparatus of claim 14 wherein the heating means comprises:

a plurality of heater elements mounted in the mass.

17. The heater apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:

a controller for controlling the individual activation of each of the heater elements.

18. The heater apparatus of claim 14 wherein the heating means comprises:

a calrod.

19. The heater apparatus of claim 14 wherein the heating means comprises:

a thick film heater element.

20. A vehicle window wash apparatus comprises:

a fluid source for supplying wash fluid;

a fluid discharge device fluidically coupled to the fluid source for discharging fluid from the reservoir;

a heater means disposed in fluid flow communication between the fluid source and the fluid discharge device; and

a controller, coupled to the heater means for supplying power to the heater means;

the heater apparatus including;

a thermally conductive mass having an inlet and an outlet;

a continuous labyrinthian fluid flow path formed in the mass between the inlet and the outlet, the fluid flow path substantially enveloping the heating means to absorb heat from the thermally conductive mass as fluid flows through the fluid flow path between the inlet and the outlet.

21. The wash apparatus of claim 20 wherein the fluid flow path defines a spirally shaped fluid flow path.

22. The wash apparatus of claim 20 wherein the fluid flow path comprises:

a first flow path portion extending across one surface of the thermally conductive mass; and

a second flow path portion extending across an opposed surface of the thermally conductive mass, the first and second flow path portions disposed in fluid flow communication.

23. The wash apparatus of claim 22 wherein the first and second flow path portions are disposed in fluid flow communication substantially at the center of the thermally conductive mass.

24. The wash apparatus of claim 22 wherein:

the first flow path defines a spiral shaped flow path extending radially inward from an inlet to a bore connecting the first flow path to the second flow path; and

the second flow path defines a spirally shaped flow path extending radially outward from the bore connecting the first flow path to the second flow path to the outlet.

25. The wash apparatus of claim 20 wherein the heating means comprises:

at least one heater element mounted in the mass.

26. The wash apparatus of claim 25 wherein the heating means comprises:

a plurality of heater elements mounted in the mass.

27. The wash apparatus of claim 26 further comprising:

a controller for controlling the individual activation of each of the heater elements.

28. The wash apparatus of claim 20 wherein the heating means comprises:

a calrod.

29. The wash apparatus of claim 20 wherein the heating means is disposed in the thermally conductive mass and substantially encompassed by the fluid flow path.

30. The wash apparatus of claim 20 wherein the heating means comprises:

a thick film heater element.

31. The wash apparatus claim 20 further comprising:

a controller for controlling the activation of the heating means.

32. The wash apparatus of claim 20 wherein:

the fluid flow path defines a spirally shaped fluid flow path wherein adjacent flow portions of the fluid flow path are disposed adjacent to each other and separated by a wall of the thermally conductive mass.

33. The wash apparatus of claim 20 further comprising:

the fluid flow path formed such that fluid flow through the fluid flow path in radially adjacent flow path portions is in the same direction.