Fluid heater with compressible cover freeze protection

• US 20040197094A1
• Filed: 04/04/2003
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems Incorporated (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems Incorporated (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Amberg, Michael T.
• Granted Patent: US 6,889,005 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 392/484
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/488 electrically
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/121 using electric energy supply
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/78 Heating arrangements specially adapted for immersion heating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6416 With heating or cooling of the system

Abstract

A fluid heater apparatus supplies heat to wash fluid via a flow path in a thermally conductive body. A heat source is disposed in the thermally conductive body for imparting heat to the body. Fluid in a flow path in the thermal body enveloping the heat source absorbs heat from the body. A fluid expansion member is fixed to the mass over the open ends of the fluid flow path in the thermal body. The fluid expansion member is formed of a compressible foam material having shape memory. The fluid expansion member is sealingly joinable by fasteners to the thermal body through bores formed in the peripheral edge of the member.

Claims

1. A heater apparatus for heating fluid, the heater apparatus comprising:

a thermally conductive mass;

heating means, thermally coupled to the thermally conductive mass, for imparting heat to the thermally conductive mass;

a fluid flow path formed in the mass between an inlet and an outlet, the fluid flow path coupled in heat transfer relation to the thermally conductive mass so that fluid in the fluid flow path absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass;

the fluid flow path having an open portion opening to the exterior of the thermally conductive mass;

fluid expansion means, disposed over the open portion of the fluid flow path in the thermally conductive mass for reversibly allowing expansion of fluid in the fluid flow path when the fluid undergoes a phase change to a solid state; and

means for fixing the peripheral edge of the fluid expansion means to the thermally conductive mass.

2. The heater apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the fluid expansion means has a peripheral edge; and

the fixing means fixing the peripheral edge to the mass.

3. The heater apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the fluid expansion means comprises a body formed of a compressible material.

4. The heater apparatus of claim 3 wherein:

the compressible material is formed of a closed cell foam.

5. The heater apparatus of claim 3 wherein:

the compressible material as a first lower density portion disposed over the fluid flow path in the mass and a second higher density portion in the peripheral edge.

6. The heater apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a housing formed of first and second covers fixable to each other and surrounding the thermal mass, at least one of the covers having a central portion defining an interior recess receiving the fluid expansion means.

7. The heater apparatus of claim 6 wherein:

the fluid expansion means is formed of a closed cell foam.

8. The heater apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fluid flow path comprises:

a first flow path portion extending across one surface of the thermally conductive mass;

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

the fluid expansion means including at least a first fluid expansion element associated with one of the first and second flow path portions.

9. The heater apparatus of claim 8 wherein:

the first and second flow path portions are disposed in fluid flow communication substantially at the center of the thermally conductive mass.

10. The heater apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heating means comprises:

at least one heater element mounted in the mass.

11. The heater apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heating means comprises:

a plurality of heater elements mounted in the mass.

12. The heater apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

a controller for controlling the activation of each of the heater elements.

13. The heater apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the heating means is disposed in the thermally conductive mass and substantially encompassed by the fluid flow path.

14. The heater apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

the fluid flow path defining a labyrinthian path between the inlet and the outlet; and

the fluid expansion means having a surface engagable over the open ends of the fluid flow path in the thermally conductive mass, the surface having a complementary labyrinthian pattern sealingly engagable with the open end portion of the fluid flow path in one surface of the thermally conductive mass.

15. The heater apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a plate having a central portion accommodating a portion of the fluid expansion means, the plate joinable with the fluid expansion means by the fixing means to one surface of the thermally conductive mass.

16. The heater apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

at least one bore extending through the fluid expansion means to allow fluid flow to contact the plate.

17. The heater apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

compression means, fixed to the fluid expansion means and the thermally conductive mass, for applying compression force to the fluid expansion to seal the fluid expansion means on the thermally conductive mass.

18. The heater apparatus of claim 17 wherein the compression means comprises:

a rigid ring member having apertures for the fixing means, the rigid member mountable on a peripheral edge of the fluid expansion means.

19. The heater apparatus of claim 17 wherein the compression means comprises:

a plate having a central portion accommodating a portion of the fluid expansion means, the plate joinable with the fluid expansion means by the fixing means to one surface of the thermally conductive mass.

20. The heater apparatus of claim 19 wherein:

the plate has apertures for receiving the fixing means.

21. The heater apparatus of claim 17 wherein:

the plate has a complementary shape to the fluid expansion means.

22. The heater apparatus of claim 19 wherein the plate further comprises:

at least one rib depending from a peripheral edge of a plate to forcibly engage the fluid expansion means to apply compressive force to a peripheral edge of the fluid expansion means.

23. The heater apparatus of claim 17 wherein the plate further comprises:

a pair of ribs depending from a peripheral edge of a plate to forcibly engage the fluid expansion means to apply compressive force to a peripheral edge of the fluid expansion means;

a plurality of through bores formed between the pair of ribs and alignable with the bores in the thermally conductive mass for receiving the fixing means therethrough.

24. The heater apparatus of claim 18 wherein the ring member further comprises:

at least one rib depending from a peripheral edge of a plate to forcibly engage the fluid expansion means to apply compressive force to a peripheral edge of the fluid expansion means.

26. The heater apparatus of claim 24 wherein:

the fluid expansion means has a peripheral edge; and

further including

fixing means for fixing the peripheral edge to the mass.

35. The heater apparatus of claim 26 further comprising:

a plate having a central portion accommodating a portion of the fluid expansion means, the plate joinable with the fluid expansion means by the fixing means to one surface of the thermally conductive mass.

36. The heater apparatus of claim 35 further comprising:

at least one bore extending through the fluid expansion means to allow fluid flow to contact the plate.

25. A heater apparatus for heating fluid, the heater apparatus comprising:

a thermally conductive mass;

a fluid flow path formed of 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, the fluid flow path defined by open-ended channels formed in the thermally conductive mass, the open-ends of the channels facing outward from the thermally conductive mass;

at least one heating element thermically mounted in the thermally conductive mass and substantially contacted 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 thermally conductive mass;

control means, for activating the at least one heating element; and

fluid expansion means, coupled to the mass, for reversibly allowing expansion of fluid in the fluid flow path when the fluid undergoes a phase change to a solid state.

27. The heater apparatus of claim 25 wherein:

the fluid expansion means comprises a body formed of a compressible material.

28. The heater apparatus of claim 27 wherein:

the compressible material is formed of a closed cell foam.

29. The heater apparatus of claim 27 wherein:

the compressible material as a first lower density portion disposed over the fluid flow path in the mass and a second higher density portion in the peripheral edge.

30. The heater apparatus of claim 25 further comprising:

a housing formed of first and second covers fixable to each other and surrounding the thermal mass, at least one of the covers having a central portion defining an interior recess receiving the fluid expansion means.

31. The heater apparatus of claim 30 wherein:

the fluid expansion means is formed of a closed cell foam.

32. The heater apparatus of claim 25 wherein:

the first and second flow path portions are disposed in fluid flow communication substantially at the center of the thermally conductive mass.

33. The heater apparatus of claim 25 wherein the at least one heating element comprises:

a plurality of heater elements thermically mounted in the mass.

34. The heater apparatus of claim 25 further comprising:

the fluid flow path defining a labyrinthian path between the inlet and the outlet; and

the fluid expansion means having a surface engagable over the open ends of the fluid flow path in the thermally conductive mass, the surface having a complementary labyrinthian pattern sealingly engagable with the open end portion of the fluid flow path in one surface of the thermally conductive mass.

37. The heater apparatus of claim 25 further comprising:

compression means, fixed to the fluid expansion means and the thermally conductive mass for applying compression to the fluid expansion to seal the fluid expansion means on the thermally conductive mass.

38. The heater apparatus of claim 37 wherein the compression means comprises:

a rigid ring member having apertures for the fixing means, the rigid member mountable on a peripheral edge of the fluid expansion means.

39. The heater apparatus of claim 37 wherein the compression means comprises:

a plate having a central portion accommodating a portion of the fluid expansion means, the plate joinable with the fluid expansion means by the fixing means to one surface of the thermally conductive mass.

40. The heater apparatus of claim 39 wherein:

the plate has apertures for receiving the fixing means.

41. The heater apparatus of claim 40 wherein:

the plate has a complementary shape to the fluid expansion means.

42. The heater apparatus of claim 39 wherein the plate further comprises:

at least one rib depending from a peripheral edge of a plate to forcibly engage the fluid expansion means to apply compressive force to a peripheral edge of the fluid expansion means.

43. The heater apparatus of claim 39 wherein the plate further comprises:

a pair of ribs depending from a peripheral edge of a plate to forcibly engage the fluid expansion means to apply compressive force to a peripheral edge of the fluid expansion means;

a plurality of through bores formed between the pair of ribs and alignable with the bores in the thermally conductive mass for receiving the fixing means therethrough.

44. A vehicle window wash apparatus comprises:

a fluid source for supplying wash fluid;

a fluid discharge device fluidically coupled to the fluid source for discharging fluid from the reservoir;

a 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 means including;

a fluid flow path formed in the mass between the inlet and the outlet, the fluid flow path substantially enveloping the heating means so that fluid in the fluid flow path absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass;

a thermally conductive mass having an inlet and an outlet;

at least one heating element thermally mounted in the thermally conductive mass and substantially contacted by the mass, the heating means imparting heat to the thermally conductive mass so that fluid in the first and second flow path portions absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass;

control means, connected to the heating element, for activating the heating element, the fluid flow path having an open end opening to the exterior of the thermally conductive mass;

a housing carrying the thermally conductive mass in an interior cavity;

fluid expansion means, fixed to the mass, for reversibly allowing expansion of fluid in the fluid flow path when the fluid undergoes a phase change to a solid state.

45. The heater apparatus of claim 44 wherein:

the fluid expansion means has a peripheral edge; and

the fixing means fixing the peripheral edge to the mass.

46. The heater apparatus of claim 44 wherein:

the fluid expansion means comprises a body formed of a compressible material.

47. The heater apparatus of claim 46 wherein:

the compressible material is formed of a closed cell foam.

48. The heater apparatus of claim 46 wherein:

the compressible material as a first lower density portion disposed over the fluid flow path in the mass and a second higher density portion in the peripheral edge.

49. The heater apparatus of claim 44 further comprising:

a housing formed of first and second covers fixable to each other and surrounding the thermal mass, at least one of the covers having a central portion defining an interior recess receiving the fluid expansion means.

50. The heater apparatus of claim 49 wherein:

the fluid expansion means is formed of a closed cell foam.

51. The heater apparatus of claim 44 wherein the fluid flow path comprises:

a first flow path portion extending across one surface of the thermally conductive mass;

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

the fluid expansion means including at least a first fluid expansion element associated with one of the first and second flow path portions.

52. The heater apparatus of claim 51 wherein:

the first and second flow path portions are disposed in fluid flow communication substantially at the center of the thermally conductive mass.

53. The heater apparatus of claim 44 wherein:

the heating means is disposed in the thermally conductive mass and substantially encompassed by the fluid flow path.

55. The heater apparatus of claim 44 further comprising:

the fluid flow path defining a labyrinthian path between the inlet and the outlet; and

the fluid expansion means having a surface engagable over the open ends of the fluid flow path in the thermally conductive mass, the surface having a complementary labyrinthian pattern sealingly engagable with the open end portion of the fluid flow path in one surface of the thermally conductive mass.

56. The heater apparatus of claim 44 further comprising:

a plate having a central portion accommodating a portion of the fluid expansion means, the plate joinable with the fluid expansion means by the fixing means to one surface of the thermally conductive mass.

57. The heater apparatus of claim 56 further comprising:

at least one bore extending through the fluid expansion means to allow fluid flow to contact the plate.

58. The heater apparatus of claim 44 further comprising:

compression means, fixed to the fluid expansion means and the thermally conductive mass for applying compression to the fluid expansion to seal the fluid expansion means on the thermally conductive mass.

59. The heater apparatus of claim 58 wherein the compression means comprises:

a rigid ring member having apertures for the fixing means, the rigid member mountable on a peripheral edge of the fluid expansion means.

60. The heater apparatus of claim 58 wherein the compression means comprises:

a plate having a central portion accommodating a portion of the fluid expansion means, the plate joinable with the fluid expansion means by the fixing means to one surface of the thermally conductive mass.

61. The heater apparatus of claim 60 wherein:

the plate has apertures for receiving the fixing means.

62. The heater apparatus of claim 58 wherein:

the plate has a complementary shape to the fluid expansion means.

63. The heater apparatus of claim 58 wherein the plate further comprises:

at least one rib depending from a peripheral edge of a plate to forcibly engage the fluid expansion means to apply compressive force to a peripheral edge of the fluid expansion means.

64. The heater apparatus of claim 58 wherein the plate further comprises:

a pair of ribs depending from a peripheral edge of a plate to forcibly engage the fluid expansion means to apply compressive force to a peripheral edge of the fluid expansion means;

a plurality of through bores formed between the pair of ribs and alignable with the bores in the thermally conductive mass for receiving the fixing means therethrough.