Device for the heating of washing liquid of a windshield wiper system

• US 6,029,908 A
• Filed: 04/09/1998
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Petzold, Sven
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): EVANS, ROBIN OCTAVIA
• Application Number:
  US09/059,049
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 239/128, 239/130, 239/135, 239/284.1, 239/284.2
• US Class Current: 239/284.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/488 electrically
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/52 Arrangement of nozzles; Liquid spreading meansnozzles per se B05B

Abstract

A device for heating washing liquid of a windshield wiper system of a motor vehicle has a heating device (11) provided with an electric resistance element (13) and developed for heating of a small amount of washing liquid intended for a small number of cleanings of a windshield, which amount of washing liquid is present in an intermediate storage (2). In this way, an amount of washing liquid sufficient for the cleaning of the windshield is available after only a short period of operation of the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A device for heating washing liquid of a windshield wiper system, particularly a windshield washing system of a motor vehicle, comprising;

an intermediate storage having a size capable of holding only an amount of the washing liquid intended for a small number of cleaning operations of the windshield;

a heating device for heating of said amount of washing liquid intended for the small number of cleaning operations;

a wash nozzle adjacent the windshield;

wherein said intermediate storage is arranged in a direct vicinity of said wash nozzle;

a part of a body of the vehicle has a receiver for the wash nozzle; and

said heating device and/or said intermediate storage is attachable to said part.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the heating device has an electric heating system.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the heating device has an electrical resistance element.

4. A device according to claim 1, further comprising

a storage container for the washing liquid,

a wash nozzle adjacent the windshield of the vehicle,

a washing-liquid line leading from said storage container to said wash nozzle, and wherein

said intermediate storage is connected to said washing-liquid line.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein

a portion of the washing-liquid line is formed as said intermediate storage.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the washing-liquid line has a wound region with a number of turns having a volume corresponding to and for storing of the intended amount of the washing liquid.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein said turns of the washing-liquid line are wound around said heating device.

8. A device for heating washing liquid in a washing system of a motor vehicle, according to claim 1, further comprising

a storage container for holding the washing liquid, and

wherein said heating device also heats said intermediate storage.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein said wash nozzle is located on said intermediate storage.

10. A device according to claim 1, further comprising

a wash nozzle adjacent the windshield of the vehicle,

a washing-liquid line,

a connection of the intermediate storage for the washing-liquid line leads to the wash nozzle, and

a valve, which opens above a predetermined pressure, is arranged in said connection.

11. A device according to claim 1, further comprising

a storage container for holding the washing liquid,

at least two wash nozzles arranged at a distance from each other adjacent the windshield,

washing-liquid lines,

connections of the washing-liquid lines leading to the wash nozzles being each arranged on one end of said intermediate storage, and

another washing-liquid line leading from said storage container to said intermediate storage being connected in a center of the intermnediate storage.

12. A device according to claim 1, further comprising

a storage container for holding the washing liquid,

a washing-liquid line connected to said storage container, said washing-liquid line is thermally deformable and has an enlarged portion forming said intermediate storage, and

said heating device is wound around said intermediate storage.