Windshield de-icing

• US 20050284503A1
• Filed: 08/15/2005
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: M-Heat Investors, LLC
• Original Assignee: Micro-Heat, Inc.
• Inventors: Wodnik, Jossef, Ivanov, Vyshislav, Franco, Shlomi
• Granted Patent: US 7,171,716 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/18
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/482 combined with the operation of windscreen wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/483 using a supply pump driven by the windscreen-wiper motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/487 the liquid being heated nozzles provided with heating means B60S1/52
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/488 electrically
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/50 Arrangement of reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/522 moving liquid spreading means, e.g. arranged in wiper arms

Abstract

Apparatus (20) for cleaning a window (24) of a vehicle (22), including a vessel (28) having an inlet (32) through which a washing fluid is received from a reservoir and an outlet (34) through which the fluid is discharged for cleaning the window. There is a heating (50) for heating the fluid in the vessel, which element preheats the vessel before the washing fluid is received therein, whereby at least an initial quantity of the fluid is rapidly heated and discharged from the vessel.

Claims

1-58. -58. (canceled)

59. Apparatus for cleaning a window of a vehicle, comprising:

a vessel, having an inlet through which a washing fluid may be received from a reservoir and an outlet through which the fluid may be discharged to at least one spray head for cleaning the window;

a heating element for heating the fluid in the vessel; and

a bypass through which fluid may be selectably conveyed from said reservoir to said at least one spray head.

60. Apparatus according to claim 59, wherein when cleaning of the window is required while fluid is not available from the vessel, the fluid is diverted through the bypass.

61. Apparatus according to claim 59, and further comprising an operator actuated switch for selecting whether the fluid is to be conveyed through the bypass or through the vessel.

62. Apparatus according to claim 59, and further comprising:

one or more temperature sensors, which generate signals responsive to an operating temperature of the apparatus; and

a controller, which receives said signals and regulates discharge of the fluid from the vessel responsive thereto.

63. Apparatus according to claim 59 wherein said apparatus is operative to automatically switch between conveying the fluid through the vessel and through the bypass.

64. Apparatus according to claim 59 and further comprising a controller operative to intermittently release quantities of the fluid through the outlet.

65. Apparatus according to claim 64, and further comprising a windshield wiper which is activated intermittently to clean the window responsive to the intermittent release of the fluid.

66. Apparatus according to claim 64, wherein said controller regulates the intermittent release of the fluid according to a given timing sequence.

67. Apparatus according to claim 66, wherein the timing sequence is varied responsive to an ambient temperature in the vehicle.

68. Apparatus according to claim 66, wherein the timing sequence is varied responsive to a temperature of an outer surface of the window.

69. A method for cleaning a window of a vehicle using a washing fluid, the method comprising:

providing a heating apparatus and a bypass through which fluid may be conveyed from a reservoir to at least one spray head, said apparatus including a vessel for receiving a washing fluid from the reservoir including an outlet through which the fluid may be discharged to said at least one spray head for cleaning the window and a heating element for heating the fluid in the vessel;

providing washing fluid to said at least one spray head, said providing washing fluid comprising one of the following;

heating a quantity of washing fluid in the vessel and discharging the washing fluid to said at least one spray head; and

conveying fluid from said reservoir through said bypass to said at least one spray head.

70. A method according to claim 69 and further comprising automatically switching between said heating a quantity of washing fluid in the vessel and discharging the washing fluid to said at least one spray head and said conveying fluid from said reservoir through said bypass to said at least one spray head.

71. A method according to claim 69 and further comprising switching between said heating a quantity of washing fluid in the vessel and discharging the washing fluid to said at least one spray head and said conveying fluid from said reservoir through said bypass to said at least one spray head based on an input from an operator of said vehicle.

72. A method according to claim 69 and further comprising repeating a plurality of times in sequence the steps of:

heating a quantity of the fluid in the vessel;

monitoring a temperature of the quantity of the fluid; and

discharging the quantity when a predetermined condition on the heating of the fluid is satisfied.

73. A method according to claim 72, wherein the predetermined condition is satisfied when the temperature of the quantity of the fluid reaches a selected level.

74. A method according to claim 72, wherein the predetermined condition is satisfied when a predetermined period of time has elapsed since beginning the heating.