Fluid heater
First Claim
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1. A heater apparatus for heating fluid, the heater apparatus comprising:
- a thermally conductive mass defining a thermal energy store;
heating means, thermally coupled to and substantially enveloped by the thermally conductive mass, for imparting heat to the thermally conductive mass;
fins thermally coupled to the thermally conductive mass and coacting with each other and the mass to define a continuous labyrinthian fluid flow path so that heat from the heating means migrates to and is in stored the thermally conductive mass and migrates from the thermally conductive mass to the fluid whereon heat is absorbed by fluid in the fluid flow path; and
the fluid flow path including 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, and defining alternating regions of laminar and turbulent fluid flow as the fluid flows through the first and second flow path portions.
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Abstract
A fluid heater apparatus supplies heat to wash fluid via a continuous, labyrinthian flow path in a thermally conductive body. A heat source is disposed in the thermally conductive body for imparting heat to the body. Fluid flowing through the thermally conductive body substantially envelopes the heat source to absorb heat from the body.
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Citations
62 Claims
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1. A heater apparatus for heating fluid, the heater apparatus comprising:
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a thermally conductive mass defining a thermal energy store;
heating means, thermally coupled to and substantially enveloped by the thermally conductive mass, for imparting heat to the thermally conductive mass;
fins thermally coupled to the thermally conductive mass and coacting with each other and the mass to define a continuous labyrinthian fluid flow path so that heat from the heating means migrates to and is in stored the thermally conductive mass and migrates from the thermally conductive mass to the fluid whereon heat is absorbed by fluid in the fluid flow path; and
the fluid flow path including 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, and defining alternating regions of laminar and turbulent fluid flow as the fluid flows through the first and second flow path portions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 60, 61, 62)
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12. A heater apparatus for heating fluid, the heater apparatus comprising:
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a thermally conductive mass defining a thermal energy store;
fins thermally coupled to the mass and coacting with each other and the mass to form a continuous labyrinthian fluid flow path including 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 and defining alternating regions of laminar and turbulent fluid flow as the fluid flows through the first and second flow path portions; and
at least one heating element thermally mounted in the thermally conductive mass and substantially enveloped by the mass, the heating element imparting heat to the thermally conductive mass so that fluid in the first and second flow path portions absorbs heat from the fins, the heat migrating to the fins from the thermally conductive mass. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A vehicle window wash apparatus comprising:
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a fluid source for supplying wash fluid;
a fluid discharge device fluidically coupled to the fluid source for discharging fluid from the fluid source;
heater means disposed in fluid flow communication between the fluid source and the fluid discharge device; and
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 and defining the thermal energy store;
fins thermally coupled to the thermally conductive mass and coacting with each other and the mass to define a continuous labyrinthian fluid flow path between the inlet and the outlet, the fluid flow path substantially enveloping the heating means so that heat from the heating means migrates to and is stored in the thermally conductive mass and migrates from the thermally conductive mass to the fluid whereon heat is absorbed by fluid in the fluid flow path; and
the fluid flow path including 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, and defining alternating regions of laminar and turbulent fluid flow as the fluid flows through the first and second flow path portions. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of heating fluid comprising the steps of:
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applying thermal energy to a thermally conductive mass by a heating means thermally coupled within the mass for storing thermal energy in the mass; and
thermally coupling fins to the mass, the fins forming a continuous labyrinthian fluid flow path between an inlet and an outlet, thermally conductive mass substantially enveloping the heating means so that fluid within the fluid flow path absorbs heat from the mass so that heat migrates from the heating means to the mass and from the mass to the fins; and
forming the fluid flow path to include 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, and defining alternating regions of laminar and turbulent fluid flow as the fluid flows through the first and second flow path portions. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A heating apparatus for heating fluid, the heating apparatus comprising:
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means for providing a thermally conductive mass defining a thermal energy store;
means for thermally coupling heating means to the thermally conductive mass for imparting thermal energy to the thermally conductive mass;
means for forming fins thermally coupled to the thermally conductive mass and coacting with each other and the mass to define a continuous labyrinthian fluid flow path in the mass between an inlet and an outlet, the fluid flow so that heat migrates from the heating means to the mass and from the mass to the fins so that fluid flowing through the fluid flow path absorbs heat from the mass; and
means for forming the first flow path to include a first flow path portion extending across an opposed surface of the thermally conductive mass, the first and second flow path portion disposed in fluid flow communication, and defining alternating regions of laminar and turbulent fluid flow as the fluid flows through the first and second flow path portions.
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39. A method of heating fluid comprising the steps of:
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storing thermal energy in a thermally conductive mass by a heating means;
thermally coupling fins to the mass to form a fluid flow path thermally coupled within the mass and radiating heat from the mass;
thermal energy migrating to the fins from the mass to a fluid in the fluid flow path;
forming the fluid flow path to include 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; and
forming means coupled to the fluid flow path, for discharging at least a portion of the fluid in the fluid flow path in one discharge cycle, the thermally conductive mass storing substantive quantities of thermal energy from the heating means during the one discharge cycle so that thermal energy flows only from the thermally conductive mass in the direction of the fluid in the fluid flow path which enters the fluid flow path after the one discharge cycle. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A heating apparatus for heating fluid comprising:
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means for storing thermal energy to a thermally conductive mass by a heating means;
means for forming a fluid flow path thermally coupled to the mass;
means for imparting thermal energy to the fluid in the fluid flow path from the mass and the fins;
means for forming a fluid flow path thermally coupled to the mass, the fluid flow path including a first flow path portion extending across one surface of the thermally conductive mass, and a second flow path extending across an opposed surface of the thermally conductive mass, the first and second flow path portions disposed in fluid flow communication; and
means, coupled to the fluid flow path, for discharging at least a portion of the fluid in the fluid flow path in one discharge cycle, the thermally conductive mass storing substantive quantities of thermal energy from the heating means during the one discharge cycle so that thermal energy flows only from the thermally conducive mass in the direction of the fluid in the fluid flow path which enters the fluid flow path after the one discharge cycle.
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46. A heating apparatus for heating fluid comprising:
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a thermally conductive mass defining a thermal energy store;
a fluid flow path thermally coupled to the mass;
the fluid flow path including 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;
heating means thermally coupled to the mass for storing heat in the mass, the heat migrating from the mass to fluid within the fluid flow path; and
means coupled to the fluid flow path, for discharging at least a portion of the fluid in the fluid flow path in one discharge cycle, the thermally conductive mass storing substantive quantities of thermal energy from the heating means during the one discharge cycle so that thermal energy flows only from the thermally conducive mass in the direction of the fluid in the fluid flow path which enters the fluid flow path after the one discharge cycle. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A vehicle wash fluid discharge apparatus comprising:
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a fluid source for a fluid;
a fluid discharge device fluidically coupled to the discharge source for discharging fluid from the fluid source;
a thermally conductive mass defining a thermal energy store;
heating means, thermally coupled to the thermally conductive mass, for imparting heat to the thermally conductive mass;
fins thermally coupled to the thermally conductive mass and coacting with each other and the mass to define a continuous labyrinthian fluid flow path so that heat from the heating means migrates to and is stored in the thermally conductive mass and migrates from the thermally conductive mass to the fluid whereon heat is absorbed by fluid in the fluid flow path; and
the fluid flow path including 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, and defining alternating regions of laminar and turbulent fluid flow as the fluid flows through the first and second flow path portions. - View Dependent Claims (59)
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Specification