Vehicle Windshield Cleaning System
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Apparatus for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface comprising:
- a) an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid;
b) a reservoir in fluid communication with the inlet port;
c) an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing an amount of heated fluid;
d) a heater element for heating fluid that passes from the inlet to the outlet port through said reservoir;
e) a heat exchanger at least partially covered by fluid within the reservoir in thermal contact with the heater element for conveying heat to the fluid within the reservoir; and
f) a control circuit for energizing the heater element with a voltage to heat the heating element and the fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet through the reservoir.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface. The apparatus has an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid; an outlet port for dispensing an amount of heated fluid two glow plug heating elements and a control for activating or energizing the glow plugs to heat fluid within a reservoir.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. Apparatus for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface comprising:
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a) an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid; b) a reservoir in fluid communication with the inlet port; c) an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing an amount of heated fluid; d) a heater element for heating fluid that passes from the inlet to the outlet port through said reservoir; e) a heat exchanger at least partially covered by fluid within the reservoir in thermal contact with the heater element for conveying heat to the fluid within the reservoir; and f) a control circuit for energizing the heater element with a voltage to heat the heating element and the fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet through the reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13)
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9. A fluid heating assembly for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface comprising:
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a) a plastic housing defining an interior reservoir and including an inlet port for routing fluid into the reservoir from an external source;
said housing further defining an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing an amount of heated fluid to a nozzle for spraying heated fluid from the reservoir onto a surface such as a windshield;b) a heat exchanger having struts supported by the housing in a position that is at least partially covered by fluid within the reservoir having at least one generally spaced hub c) at least one heater element for heating fluid that passes from the inlet to the outlet port through said reservoir in the vicinity of the heat exchanger, said heater elements extending into the hubs of the heat sink so that heat emitting surfaces of the heater engage interior curved surfaces of the hubs to transmit heat to the heat exchanger; d) a control circuit supported by a printed circuit board supported by the housing for energizing the heater with a voltage and thereby heat fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet through the reservoir; - View Dependent Claims (10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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11. A method of providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface comprising:
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a) mounting a heater in a heat exchanger and placing the heat exchanger into a fluid reservoir through an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid; b) coupling the reservoir to an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing an amount of heated fluid; d) heating fluid that passes from the inlet to the outlet port through said reservoir; e) energizing the heater element with a voltage to heat the heating element and the fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet through the reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification