Automotive washer system with temperature adaptive washer fluid heating and mixing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An washer system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:
- a first reservoir containing a freezable fluid;
a second reservoir containing freeze-resistant fluid;
a mixer for combining fluids from the first and second reservoirs; and
a controller, operatively connected with the mixer, for determining a relative proportion for combining the fluids from said first and second reservoirs.
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Abstract
An automotive washer system for exterior surfaces such as a windshield includes first and second reservoirs with freezable and freeze-resistant fluids, a mixer for combining fluids from the first and second reservoirs, and a controller for determining a relative proportion for combining the fluids from the first and second reservoirs and for operating the mixing valve to achieve the determined relative proportion between the fluids. In this manner, freezing of the washer system is avoided while using a minimum amount of freeze-resistant fluid.
18 Citations
10 Claims
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1. An washer system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:
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a first reservoir containing a freezable fluid;
a second reservoir containing freeze-resistant fluid;
a mixer for combining fluids from the first and second reservoirs; and
a controller, operatively connected with the mixer, for determining a relative proportion for combining the fluids from said first and second reservoirs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A temperature adaptive automotive washer system comprising:
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a first reservoir containing a freezable fluid;
a second reservoir containing a freeze-resistant fluid;
a mixer for combining fluids from the first and second reservoirs;
a fluid distribution system operatively associated with said mixer;
a heater for increasing the temperature of at least a portion of said fluid distribution system;
a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of at least a portion of said washer system; and
a controller, operatively connected with the mixer, the temperature sensor, and the heater, with said controller determining a relative proportion for combining the fluids from said first and second reservoirs and operating the heater, as a function of at least the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A method for operating an automotive washer system, comprising the steps of:
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measuring a temperature related to the temperature of said system;
reading a previously stored system mix value;
determining whether the said previous mix value is suitable for the measured temperature;
calculating a new value based at least in part upon the measured temperature; and
applying heat to the washer system in the event that the previously stored mix value corresponds to a temperature in excess of the measured system temperature. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification