Windshield heat and clean
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A window washing system for a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a nozzle located adjacent a vehicle window for directing washer fluid against the window;
a washer fluid reservoir to contain a supply of washer fluid;
a heat exchanger having an inlet connected to the washer fluid reservoir and an outlet connected to said nozzle, the heat exchanger having a coolant passage plate and a first wiper fluid plate, whereinthe first wiper fluid plate and coolant passage plate are held together by a fastening means;
the coolant passage plate allows the passage of coolant from the heat exchanger inlet to the heat exchanger outlet andthe first wiper fluid plate contains a wiper fluid passage to route wiper fluid through the first plate to transfer heat from the engine coolant, the wiper fluid passage being in the form of a trench recessed in and defined by the first plate, wherein such a trench is only formed on one side of the first plate;
pumping means for transferring washer fluid from said washer fluid reservoir into said heat exchanger and from said heat exchanger to said nozzle; and
means for circulating coolant from a motor cooling system into the heat exchanger with the washer fluid inside to thereby heat the washer fluid.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A washer fluid heater apparatus in embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features: (a) a heat exchanger having a washer fluid inlet to allow washer fluid to enter the heat exchanger and a washer fluid outlet to allow the washer fluid to exit the heat exchanger; and (b) a coolant passage traversing through the heat exchanger having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, the coolant inlet and coolant outlet operably coupled to an engine'"'"'s coolant system to allow passage of engine coolant through the heat exchanger.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A window washing system for a motor vehicle, comprising:
-
a nozzle located adjacent a vehicle window for directing washer fluid against the window; a washer fluid reservoir to contain a supply of washer fluid; a heat exchanger having an inlet connected to the washer fluid reservoir and an outlet connected to said nozzle, the heat exchanger having a coolant passage plate and a first wiper fluid plate, wherein the first wiper fluid plate and coolant passage plate are held together by a fastening means; the coolant passage plate allows the passage of coolant from the heat exchanger inlet to the heat exchanger outlet and the first wiper fluid plate contains a wiper fluid passage to route wiper fluid through the first plate to transfer heat from the engine coolant, the wiper fluid passage being in the form of a trench recessed in and defined by the first plate, wherein such a trench is only formed on one side of the first plate; pumping means for transferring washer fluid from said washer fluid reservoir into said heat exchanger and from said heat exchanger to said nozzle; and means for circulating coolant from a motor cooling system into the heat exchanger with the washer fluid inside to thereby heat the washer fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A washer fluid heater system configured to be installed in a motor vehicle having an engine and an engine coolant system, the washer fluid heater system being configured to heat washer fluid delivered to a windshield of the motor vehicle without drawing off battery power from the motor vehicle or otherwise using electricity, the washer fluid heating system comprising:
-
a heat exchanger configured to be installed into the engine coolant system of the motor vehicle, the heat exchanger having a wiper fluid inlet to allow wiper fluid to enter the heat exchanger and a wiper fluid outlet to allow the wiper fluid to exit the heat exchanger, wherein a thermally-actuated bypass system is incorporated into the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger having a bypass passage; a coolant passage traversing through the heat exchanger having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, the coolant inlet and coolant outlet operably coupled to the engine coolant system to allow passage of engine coolant through the heat exchanger; and the heat exchanger'"'"'s thermally-actuated bypass system including a thermal actuator positioned within the heat exchanger, the thermal actuator actuates a gate routing the engine coolant flow to the bypass passage from the coolant passage when the wiper fluid becomes too hot; wherein the heat exchanger has a first chamber and a second chamber; and wherein the coolant inlet is operably coupled to the first chamber and the coolant outlet is operably coupled to the second chamber. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A washer fluid heater system configured to be installed in a motor vehicle having an engine and an engine coolant system, the washer fluid heater system being configured to heat washer fluid delivered to a windshield of the motor vehicle without drawing off battery power from the motor vehicle or otherwise using electricity, the washer fluid heating system comprising:
-
a heat exchanger configured to be installed into the engine coolant system of the motor vehicle, the heat exchanger having a wiper fluid inlet to allow wiper fluid to enter the heat exchanger and a wiper fluid outlet to allow the wiper fluid to exit the heat exchanger, wherein a thermally-actuated bypass system is incorporated into the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger having a bypass passage; a coolant passage traversing through the heat exchanger having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, the coolant inlet and coolant outlet operably coupled to the engine coolant system to allow passage of engine coolant through the heat exchanger; and the heat exchanger'"'"'s thermally-actuated bypass system including a thermal actuator positioned within the heat exchanger, the thermal actuator actuates a gate routing the engine coolant flow to the bypass passage from the coolant passage when the wiper fluid becomes too hot; wherein the heat exchanger has a first chamber and a second chamber; wherein the coolant passage is only directly adjacent to the second chamber; and wherein the wiper fluid inlet is operably coupled to the first chamber where the wiper fluid is pre-heated by the first chamber. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
Specification