Vehicle windshield cleaning system
First Claim
1. A method of providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface comprising:
- a) providing a metal heat exchanger having outwardly extending fins that define channels along a surface of the heat exchanger and defines a recess within a body of said metal heat exchanger having inwardly facing walls;
b) mounting a heater element within the recess of the metal heat exchanger in heat transfer contact with the inwardly facing walls of the recess;
c) positioning the heat exchanger within a fluid reservoir for receiving fluid through an inlet port;
d) coupling the reservoir to an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing an amount of heated fluid;
e) routing fluid from the inlet port to the outlet port by forcing the fluid though the channels bounded by surfaces of the outwardly extending fins of said heat exchanger; and
f) 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.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface having an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid; a housing bounding a reservoir in fluid communication with the inlet port; and an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing an amount of heated fluid. A heater element heats fluid that passes from the inlet to the outlet port through the reservoir. A heat exchanger in thermal contact with the heater element for conveying heat to the fluid within the reservoir has a strut that divides fluid entering the housing through the inlet port into two flow paths and elongated fins that extend outwardly from the strut at transverse angles that bound fluid flow channels for fluid moving through said reservoir. A control circuit energizes the heater element with a voltage to heat the heating element and the fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet through the reservoir.
38 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface comprising:
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a) providing a metal heat exchanger having outwardly extending fins that define channels along a surface of the heat exchanger and defines a recess within a body of said metal heat exchanger having inwardly facing walls; b) mounting a heater element within the recess of the metal heat exchanger in heat transfer contact with the inwardly facing walls of the recess; c) positioning the heat exchanger within a fluid reservoir for receiving fluid through an inlet port; d) coupling the reservoir to an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing an amount of heated fluid; e) routing fluid from the inlet port to the outlet port by forcing the fluid though the channels bounded by surfaces of the outwardly extending fins of said heat exchanger; and f) 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, 9, 10)
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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 element in a metal heat exchanger having outwardly extending fins that define channels along a surface of the heat exchanger; b) providing a fluid reservoir within a housing for receiving fluid through an inlet port; c) placing the heat exchanger into the fluid reservoir and supporting the heat exchanger by engaging ends of the outwardly extending fins on inwardly extending lands of said housing to define a back and forth path for the fluid entering the inlet port; d) coupling the reservoir to an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing an amount of heated fluid; e) heating fluid that passes from the inlet port to the outlet port by forcing the fluid though serpentine channels that form the back and forth path and are bounded by the outwardly extending fins through said reservoir; and f) 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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Specification