FLUID HEATER WITH FREEZE PROTECTION
First Claim
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;
a fluid flow path formed in the mass between an inlet and an outlet, the fluid flow path coupled in heat transfer relation to the heating means so that fluid in the fluid flow path absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass, the fluid flow path open to the exterior of the thermally conductive mass;
a housing carrying the thermally conductive mass in an interior cavity; and
fluid expansion means, coupled to the mass, for reversibly allowing phase change expansion of fluid in the fluid flow path.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A heat source is disposed in the thermally conductive mass housing for imparting heat to the mass. Fluid in a flow path through the mass absorbs heat from the mass. A fluid expansion member is mounted over open ends of the fluid flow path. The fluid expansion member, in one aspect, is formed of a compressible material to compress under the forces of fluid phase change to a solid state and expands back to a nominal shape when the fluid undergoes a reverse phase change to a liquid state. In another aspect, the fluid expansion member is a solid seal member overlaying the open ends of the fluid flow channels. The seal resists expansion under normal fluid operating pressures, but expands into an open interior chamber in a closure fixed to the mass to accommodate a phase change expansion of the fluid.
-
Citations
41 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;
a fluid flow path formed in the mass between an inlet and an outlet, the fluid flow path coupled in heat transfer relation to the heating means so that fluid in the fluid flow path absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass, the fluid flow path open to the exterior of the thermally conductive mass;
a housing carrying the thermally conductive mass in an interior cavity; and
fluid expansion means, coupled to the mass, for reversibly allowing phase change expansion of fluid in the fluid flow path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A heater apparatus for heating fluid, the heater apparatus comprising:
-
a thermally conductive mass;
a 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, the fluid flow path defined by open-ended channels formed in the thermally conductive mass, the open-ends of the channels facing outward from the thermally conductive mass;
at least one heating element thermally mounted in the thermally conductive mass and substantially contacted by the mass, the heating means imparting heat to the thermally conductive mass so that fluid in the first and second flow path portions absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass;
control means, including power switch means connected to the at least one heating element, for activating the at least one heating element;
a housing carrying the thermally conductive mass in an interior cavity; and
fluid expansion means mounted on the mass for reversibly allowing phase change expansion of fluid in the fluid flow path when the fluid is in at least a substantially solid state. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. 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;
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 fluid flow path formed in the mass between the inlet and the outlet, the fluid flow path substantially enveloping the heating means so that fluid in the fluid flow path absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass;
control means, connected to the heating means, for activating the heating means;
the fluid flow path open to the exterior of the thermally conductive mass;
a housing carrying the thermally conductive mass in an interior cavity; and
fluid expansion means carried in the housing for reversibly allowing expansion of fluid in the fluid flow path when the fluid is in at least a substantially solid state. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
-
Specification