VEHICLE WINDSHIELD CLEANING SYSTEM

• US 20080283629A1
• Filed: 07/30/2008
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uusi LLC (Nartron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nartron Corporation
• Inventors: Washeleski, John, Mitchell, John, Strom, Peter, Shank, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,673,814 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/284.1
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/10 responsive to temperature or viscosity of liquid or other fluent material discharged
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/002 incorporating means for heating or cooling, e.g. the material to be sprayed
• 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: F24H 1/105 formed by the tube through which the fluid flows
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/188 with means for compensating water expansion
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/202 with resistances

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; a heating element that heats up fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet; and a control circuit for energizing at least a portion of the heating element with a voltage to heat the fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet.

Claims

1. Apparatus for providing a 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 for storing fluid which enters a reservoir interior from the inlet port, said reservoir including an expandable portion that expands when fluid in the reservoir freezes to prevent damage to the reservoir;

c) an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing an amount of fluid; and

d) a control circuit for controlling dispensing of the fluid from the outlet port.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the expandable portion comprises a rubber boot that covers an open end of the reservoir.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the expandable portion comprises a rubber boot that covers a lower end of the reservoir.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the expandable portion comprises a flexible boot that fits over one end of the reservoir and flexes outwardly to accommodate expansion of fluid within the reservoir.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a heating element for heating fluid that passes from the inlet to the outlet.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the control circuit energizes at least a portion of the heating element with a voltage to heat the heating element and the fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the heating element is made from stainless steel.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein fluid flows from the inlet port, through the heating element, to the outlet port.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a temperature sensor coupled directly to the heating element wherein the control circuit selectively energizes and de-energizes at least a portion of the heating element based on input from the temperature sensor to prevent the fluid from reaching a boiling point of the fluid.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the control circuit prevents the fluid from being heated to temperatures above 150 degrees Fahrenheit.

44. The apparatus of claim 6 comprising a thermal fuse in thermal communication with said heating element that operates to disconnect the energizing voltage from said heating element when a temperature of said heating element exceeds a thermal fuse trigger temperature.

45. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein the thermal fuse is in connect with said heating element.

46. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein the thermal fuse is in close proximity to said heating element.

11. Apparatus for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface comprising:

a) an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid;

b) a stainless steel heating element through which fluid from the inlet port flows;

c) an outlet port in fluid communication with the heating element for dispensing an amount of heated fluid;

d) a control circuit for energizing at least a portion of the heating element with a voltage to heat the heating element and the fluid passing from the inlet, through the heating element, to the outlet.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a temperature sensor coupled directly to the heating element and wherein the control circuit selectively energizes and de-energizes at least a portion of the heating element based on input from the temperature sensor to prevent the fluid from reaching a boiling point of the fluid.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the control circuit prevents the fluid from being heated to temperatures above 150 degrees Fahrenheit.

14. Apparatus for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface comprising:

a. an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid;

b. a heating reservoir for heating fluid entering the inlet port;

c. an outlet port in fluid communication with the heating reservoir for dispensing an amount of heated fluid;

d. a heating element for heating fluid that passes from the inlet to the outlet;

e. a temperature sensor thermally coupled to the heating element; and

f. a control circuit for energizing at least a portion of the heating element with a voltage to heat the heating element and the fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the control circuit selectively energizes and de-energizes at least a portion of the heating element based on input from the temperature sensor to prevent the fluid from reaching a boiling point of the fluid.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the control circuit prevents the fluid from being heated to temperatures above 150 degrees Fahrenheit.

47. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the reservoir is a coiled tube wound around a center axis.

48. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the heating element is supported on the reservoir.

49. The apparatus of claim 14 comprising an auxiliary heating element in addition to a first heating element that comprises an FET transistor.

50. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the heating element comprises a patterned heater.

51. The apparatus of claim 50 wherein the patterned heater comprises a thermofoil heater or electro-thermal conductive graphite.

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. Apparatus for providing heated fluid to a nozzle on a motor vehicle comprising:

a fluid bottle providing a walled chamber which acts as a reserve for fluid;

a heating coil that fits into the walled chamber of the fluid bottle;

an electronics module attached to the fluid bottle with electrical connections coupled to spaced apart portions of the heater coil for electrically energizing the heater coil;

a pump for pumping fluid through the heating coil within the fluid bottle to a bottle outlet; and

a conduit for routing fluid from the bottle outlet to a dispensing nozzle for delivery of heated fluid against a surface of the motor vehicle.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 additionally comprising a fluid displacement cylinder made from a non-electrically conductive material that is surrounded by the heating coil to limit an amount of fluid to be conductively heated.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 additionally comprising an electrical harness for routing user inputs for activating the pump and causing the electronics module to energize the heating coil.

23. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the fluid bottle comprises an inlet for filling the bottle and said bottle comprises a first chamber of said bottle that receives fluid from the inlet and further wherein the bottle comprises a second chamber and a through passage to route fluid into said second chamber from the first chamber and wherein said heating coil is positioned with said second chamber.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said pump has an outlet coupled to the second chamber for pressurizing the second chamber.

25. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the pump draws fluid into said heater coil through an inlet where it is heated before exiting said bottle through the pump.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 additionally comprising a tube coupled to a pump output that forms the bottle outlet.

27. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the pump is positioned above a highest coil of the heater coil with said fluid bottle installed on said motor vehicle.

28. The apparatus of claim 20 comprising a check valve in a flow passageway between the pump and the heater coil to inhibit fluid from re-entering the heater coil from the region of the bottle outlet.

29. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the heater coil is coated with a non-thermally conductive material for thermal isolation to provide faster initial fluid heat response.

30. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the bottle includes two chambers and wherein a chamber that supports the heating coil is pressured by the pump.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the two chambers are separated by a double wall that separates the two chambers.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the double wall defines one or more air cavities that provide insulation between the colder fluid contained in a first chamber and warmer fluid in a second chamber.

33. Apparatus for preheating fluid dispensed onto a motor vehicle surface comprising:

a dual chambered fluid bottle

a filler neck allowing fluid to enter into a first chamber of the dual chambered fluid bottle;

a pump mounted to an outer wall of chamber for drawing fluid from the first chamber and dispensing fluid into a second chamber;

a continuous length heater tube having a first segment positioned inside the second chamber wherein the heater tube exits the second chamber and extends along a path to a nozzle for dispensing heated fluid; and

electrical terminal connections spaced from each other along a length of said heater tube; and

a control circuit for coupling a source of energy to the terminal connections to heat fluid passing through said continuous length of heater tube.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 comprising a user controlled input for activating heating of said fluid and delivery of said fluid due to activation of said pump.

35. The apparatus of claim 33 additionally comprising a pressure sensitive check valve to limit flow through said continuous length heater at a conclusion of user activation and limit the dispensing of unwanted cool fluid to a small amount during the next user activation.

36. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the first and second chambers are spaced by a double walled separator.

37. Apparatus for providing a cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface comprising:

a) a heater comprising;

i) an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid;

ii) a reservoir in fluid communication with the inlet port for storing fluid which enters a reservoir interior from the inlet port; and

iii) an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing an amount of fluid;

b) a control circuit for controlling dispensing of the fluid from the outlet port; and

c) a fluid delivery system for delivering fluid from the outlet port of the heater to a dispensing nozzle comprising;

i) a first conduit coupled to the outlet port of the heater for delivering fluid to the nozzle; and

ii) a second conduit coupled to the first conduit for recycling fluid in the first conduit back to the heater.

38. The apparatus of claim 37 additionally comprising a fluid supply and wherein the second conduit is coupled to the fluid supply.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the fluid supply is the heater.

40. The apparatus of claim 37 additionally comprising a pump for pressurizing the second conduit.

41. The apparatus of claim 37 additionally comprising a pressure sensitive check valve in the first conduit.

42. Apparatus for providing a cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface comprising:

a) a heater comprising;

i) an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid;

ii) a reservoir in fluid communication with the inlet port for storing fluid which enters a reservoir interior from the inlet port; and

iii) an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing an amount of fluid;

iv) first and second coils positioned within the reservoir for heating fluid that enters the inlet port; and

v) a coupling for routing fluid moving through the first and second coils to the

outlet port;

b) a control circuit for controlling dispensing of the fluid from the outlet port and selectively energizing the coils with an energizing voltage; and

c) a fluid delivery system for delivering fluid from the outlet port of the heater to a dispensing nozzle.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 additionally comprising a pump and wherein the control circuit both energizes said pump and activates said energizing voltage to heat fluid passing through the first and second coils.

52. Apparatus for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface comprising:

a. an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid;

b. a coiled tube heating reservoir for heating fluid entering the inlet port;

c. an outlet port in fluid communication with the heating reservoir for dispensing an amount of heated fluid;

d. a patterned heating element for heating fluid that passes through the coiled tube heating reservoir from the inlet to the outlet and is positioned in thermal communication with the coiled tube heating reservoir for resistively heating said reservoir; and

e. a control circuit for energizing the patterned heating element with a voltage to heat the heating element and the fluid passing from the inlet into the coiled tube heating reservoir.

53. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein the patterned heating element comprises a thermofoil heater or electro-thermal conductive graphite.