Heatable washer system which is intended for a motor vehicle

• US 6,474,568 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2001
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Seyfarth, Lutz, Sieber, Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Application Number:
  US09/844,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20010015385A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 239/284.1
• US Class Current: 239/284.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/487 the liquid being heated nozzles provided with heating means B60S1/52
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/488 electrically
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/00 Cooling circuits using auxiliaries
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 3/20 Cooling circuits not specific to a single part of engine or machine F01P3/22 takes precedence

Abstract

In a washer system (9) which is intended for a motor vehicle, a delivery unit (1) is used to supply a washer nozzle (11) which is connected by means of a pipe element (10). To protect against damage at low ambient temperatures, a heating element (5) is arranged on a housing (7) of a pump chamber (3) of the delivery unit (1) and thus makes it possible for the washer fluid situated in the pump chamber (3) to be heated rapidly and in a specific manner.

Claims

1. A heatable washer system which is intended for a motor vehicle and comprises a heating element, a container for washer fluid, and a delivery unit for washer fluid, the heating element conducting heated water, and the delivery unit comprising a plurality of nozzles and a pipe located outside the washer-fluid container, the pipe communicating between the nozzles and the washer-fluid container, wherein the delivery unit is heated by means of the heated water of the heating element, the delivery unit has a pump chamber which is in contact with the heating element, and the heating element conducts the heated water along a surface of the pump chamber and a surface of the pipe of the delivery unit.

2. The washer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating element receives heat from a cooling-water circuit of an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle.

3. The washer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the washer system further comprises a heatable container for the washer fluid, and the heating element has a heat-exchange surface which is wetted by the washer fluid.

4. The washer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pump chamber is encircled by the heating element.