Fluid heater with a variable mass flow path

• US 6,789,744 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2002
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems Incorporated (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems Incorporated (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Bissonnette, Lee A., Benner, Mark M., Pattison, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANS, ROBIN OCTAVIA
• Application Number:
  US10/059,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20030141382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 239/284.1, 239/284.2, 239/128, 239/130, 239/133, 239/135
• US Class Current: 239/135
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/488 electrically
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/121 using electric energy supply

Abstract

A fluid heater apparatus includes a thermally conductive mass formed of a stack of lamina, each having apertures for receiving heater element(s) therethrough and apertures which are alignable between opposed ends of the stack to form fluid flow paths. The lamina are rotatably offset from adjacent lamina in one step or groups of two or more steps to create helical flow paths in the throughbores.

Claims

1. A fluid heater apparatus comprising:

a thermally conductive mass having a plurality of throughbores extending through first and second ends, the thermally conductive mass formed of a plurality of lamina, each lamina carrying a plurality of first apertures defining portions of the throughbores and at least one second aperture;

heater means mounted in the at least one second aperture in the lamina in the thermally conductive mass concentrically within and surrounded by the plurality of throughbores, the heater means supplying heat, when activated, to the thermally conductive mass; and

a fluid inlet fluidically coupled to one end of each of the plurality of throughbores and a fluid outlet fluidically coupled to each of other ends of the throughbores to define a parallel flow path between the inlet and the outlet through the plurality of throughbores wherein fluid in the throughbores absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass.

2. The heater apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of throughbores each has a helical path between opposed ends.

3. The heater apparatus of claim 2 wherein the throughbores have identical flow cross-section areas.

10. The heater apparatus of claim 1 wherein the throughbores define parallel flow paths through the thermally conductive mass.

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

at least one cylindrical heater element.

12. The heater apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heater means comprises a plurality of heater elements.

13. The heater apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

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

14. The heater apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a controller for controlling the activation of the heater means.

15. The heater apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of other bores formed in the thermally conductive mass, concentrically within the throughbores, the other bores adapted for receiving the heater means, the heater means heating the thermally conductive mass to enable heat from the thermally conductive mass to be absorbed by fluid flowing through the throughbores in the thermally conductive mass.

4. A fluid heater apparatus comprising:

a thermally conductive mass having a plurality of throughbores extending through first and second ends;

each of the plurality of throughbores having a helical path between opposed ends, and identical flow cross-section areas, the throughbores arranged in first and second concentric circumferentially spaced rings about the thermally conductive mass;

heater means mounted in the thermally conductive mass concentrically within and surrounded by the plurality of throughbores, the heater means supplying heat, when activated, to the thermally conductive mass; and

a fluid inlet fluidically coupled to one end of each of the plurality of throughbores and a fluid outlet fluidically coupled to each of the other ends of the throughbores to define a parallel flow path between the inlet and the outlet through the plurality of throughbores wherein fluid in the throughbores absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass.

5. The heater apparatus of claim 4 wherein the maximum cross-sectional dimension area of the through bore in the first, innermost ring is less than the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the throughbores in the second, outermost ring.

6. A fluid heater apparatus comprising:

a thermally conductive mass having a plurality of throughbores extending through first and second ends;

the throughbores arranged about the first and second concentric circumferentially spaced rings about the thermally conductive mass;

heater means mounted in the thermally conductive mass concentrically within and surrounded by the plurality of throughbores, the heater means supplying heat, when activated, to the thermally conductive mass; and

a fluid inlet fluidically coupled to one end of each of the plurality of throughbores and a fluid outlet fluidically coupled to each of other ends of the throughbores to define parallel flow paths between the inlet and the outlet through the plurality of throughbores wherein fluid in the throughbores absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass.

7. A fluid heater apparatus comprising:

a thermally conductive mass having a plurality of throughbores extending through first and second ends;

the thermally conductive mass formed of a plurality of lamina, each lamina carrying an aperture defining a portion of the throughbores and an aperture defining a position of a bore for receiving a heater means therethrough;

certain lamina rotatably offset from adjacent lamina by an offset distance to create a stepwise helical advance in the throughbore through the stack of lamina between the first and second ends of the stack;

heater means mounted in the thermally conductive mass concentrically within and surrounded by the plurality of throughbores, the heater means supplying heat, when activated, to the thermally conductive mass; and

a fluid inlet fluidically coupled to one end of each of the plurality of throughbores and a fluid outlet fluidically coupled to each of the other ends of the throughbores to define a parallel flow path between the inlet and the outlet through the plurality of throughbores wherein fluid in the throughbores absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass.

8. The heater apparatus of claim 7 wherein each lamina is rotatably offset from adjacent lamina.

9. The heater apparatus of claim 7 wherein a plurality of lamina are coaxially aligned and rotatably offset from a like number of a plurality of lamina which are coaxially aligned with other.

16. A fluid heater apparatus comprising:

a thermally conductive mass having a plurality of throughbores extending through first and second ends;

the thermally conductive mass formed of a plurality of lamina, each lamina carrying an aperture defining a portion of the throughbore and an aperture defining a portion of a bore for receiving a heater means therethrough;

the plurality of lamina arranged in a plurality of groups, each group formed of an identical number of lamina, the groups of lamina coaxially aligned; and

each group of lamina rotatably offset from adjacent groups of lamina by an offset distance to create a stepwise helical advance in the throughbores through the stack of lamina between the first and second ends of the stack;

heater means mounted in one of the bores in the thermally conductive mass concentrically within and surrounded by the plurality of throughbores, the heater means supplying heat, when activated, to the thermally conductive mass; and

a fluid inlet fluidically coupled to one end of each of the plurality of throughbores and a fluid outlet fluidically coupled to each of other ends of the throughbores to define a parallel flow path between the inlet and the outlet through the plurality of throughbores wherein fluid in the throughbores absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass.

17. The heater apparatus of claim 16 wherein the offset distance equals the circumferential distance to circumferentially spaced bores for receiving the heater means.

18. The heater apparatus of claim 16 wherein:

each group of lamina contains at least two lamina.

19. A method for heating fluid comprising the steps of:

providing a thermally conductive mass having a plurality of first throughbores extending through first and second ends;

forming a plurality of second bores in the thermally conductive mass concentrically with the first throughbores,

mounting a heater means in the second bores in the thermally conductive mass concentrically within and surrounded by the plurality of first throughbores, the heater means supplying heat, when activated, to the thermally conductive mass; and

fluidically coupling a fluid inlet to one end of each of the plurality of throughbores and a fluid outlet to each of the other ends of the throughbores to define at least one parallel flow path between the inlet and the outlet through the plurality of throughbores wherein fluid in the throughbores absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass.

20. A fluid heater apparatus comprising:

a thermally conductive mass having a plurality of throughbores extending through first and second ends;

the thermally conductive mass formed of a plurality of lamina, each lamina carrying an aperture defining a portion of the throughbores and an aperture defining a position of a bore for receiving a heater means therethrough;

certain lamina rotatably offset from adjacent lamina by an offset distance to create a stepwise helical advance in the throughbore through the stack of lamina between the first and second ends of the stack;

a fluid inlet fluidically coupled to ne end of each of the plurality of throughbores and a fluid outlet fluidically coupled to each of the other ends of the throughbores to define a parallel flow path between the inlet and the outlet through the plurality of throughbores wherein fluid in the throughbores absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass.

21. The heater apparatus of claim 20 wherein each lamina is rotatably offset from adjacent lamina.

22. The heater apparatus of claim 20 wherein a plurality of lamina are coaxially aligned and rotatably offset from a like number of a plurality of lamina which are coaxially aligned with other.

23. 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 pumped from the reservoir;

heater means disposed in fluid flow communication between the fluid source and the fluid discharge device;

a controller, coupled to the heater means;

for supplying power to the heater;

the heater means including;

a thermally conductive mass having a plurality of throughbores extending through first and second ends;

at least one heater element mounted in the thermally conductive mass concentrically within and surrounded by the plurality of throughbores, the heater element supplying heat, when activated, to the thermally conductive mass; and

a fluid inlet fluidically coupled to one end of each of the plurality of throughbores and a fluid outlet fluidically coupled to each of the other ends of the throughbores to define parallel flow paths between the inlet and the outlet through the plurality of throughbores wherein fluid in the throughbores absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass.

24. The wash apparatus of claim 23 wherein the plurality of throughbores each has a helical path between opposed ends.

25. The wash apparatus of claim 23 wherein the thermally conductive mass is formed of a plurality of lamina, each lamina carrying an aperture defining a portion of the throughbores and an aperture defining a position of a bore for receiving the heater means therethrough.

26. The wash apparatus of claim 25 further comprising:

certain lamina rotatably offset from adjacent lamina by an offset distance to create a stepwise helical advance in the throughbore through the stack of lamina between the first and second ends of the stack.

27. The wash apparatus of claim 26 wherein each lamina is rotatably offset from adjacent lamina.

28. The wash apparatus of claim 26 wherein a plurality of lamina are coaxially aligned and rotatably offset from a like number of a plurality of lamina which are coaxially aligned with other.

30. The wash apparatus of claim 23 wherein the at least one heater means element comprises:

at least one cylindrical heater element.

31. The wash apparatus of claim 23 wherein the heater element comprises a plurality of heater elements.

32. The wash apparatus of claim 23 further comprising:

a plurality of bores formed in the thermally conductive mass, concentrically withing the throughbores, the bores adapted for receiving cylindrical heater means, the heater means heating the thermally conductive mass to enable heat from the thermally conductive mass to absorbed by fluid flowing through the throughbores in the thermally conductive mass.

33. The wash apparatus of claim 23 further comprising:

the thermally conductive mass formed of a plurality of lamina, each lamina carrying an aperture defining a portion of the throughbore and an aperture defining a portion of a bore for receiving the heater means therethrough;

the plurality of lamina arranged in a plurality of groups, each group formed of an identical number of lamina, the groups of lamina coaxially aligned; and

each group of lamina rotatably offset from adjacent groups of lamina by a offset distance to create a stepwise helical advance in the throughbores through the stack of lamina between the first and second ends of the stack.

34. The wash apparatus of claim 33 wherein the offset distance equals the circumferential distance to circumferentially spaced bores for receiving the heater means.

35. The wash apparatus of claim 33 wherein:

each group of lamina contains at least two lamina.

29. A method for heating fluid comprising the steps of:

forming the thermally conductive mass of a plurality of lamina, each lamina carrying an aperture defining a portion of the throughbores, and another aperture defining a position of a bore for receiving a heater means;

mounting a heater means in the thermally conductive mass concentrically within and surrounded by the plurality of throughbores, the heater means supplying heat, when activated, to the thermally conductive mass; and

fluidically coupling a fluid inlet to one end of each of the plurality of throughbores and a fluid outlet to each of the other ends of the throughbores to define at least one parallel flow path between the inlet and the outlet through the plurality of throughbores wherein fluid in the throughbores absorbs heat from the thermal conductive mass.

43. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of:

rotatably offsetting certain lamina from adjacent lamina by an offset distance to create a stepwise helical advance in the throughbore defining the fluid flow path through the stack of lamina between the first and second ends of the stack.

44. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of:

rotatably offsetting each lamina from adjacent lamina.

45. The method of claim 29 further comprising the steps of:

forming a plurality of coaxially aligned lamina;

forming another set of a plurality of lamina; and

rotatably offsetting each set of lamina from each other.

36. A fluid heater apparatus comprising:

means for forming a thermally conductive mass having a plurality of throughbore extending through first and second ends;

means for mounting a heater means in the thermally conducive mass concentrically within and surrounded by the plurality of throughbores, the heater means supplying heat, when activated, to the thermally conductive mass; and

means for fluidically coupling a fluid inlet to one end of each of the plurality of throughbores and a fluid outlet to each of other ends of the throughbores to define at least one parallel flow path between the inlet and the outlet through the plurality of throughbores wherein fluid in the through bores absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass.

37. A method for heating fluid comprising the steps of:

forming a thermally conductive mass having a plurality of throughbore extending through first and second ends;

forming the thermally conductive mass of a plurality of lamina, each lamina carrying a plurality of first apertures defining portions of the throughbores, and at least one second aperture defining a portion of another bore for receiving a heater means;

mounting a heater means in the another bore of the thermally conducive mass concentrically within and surrounded by the plurality of throughbores, the heater means supplying heat, when activated, to the thermally conductive mass; and

fluidically coupling a fluid inlet to one end of each of the plurality of throughbores and a fluid outlet to each of other ends of the throughbores to define at least one parallel flow path between the inlet and the outlet through the plurality of throughbores wherein fluid in the through bores absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass.

39. The method of claim 37 further comprising the step of:

forming the throughbores with identical flow cross-section areas.

42. The method of claim 37 further comprising the step of:

forming the throughbores to define parallel flow paths through the thermally conductive mass.

38. A method for heating fluid comprising the steps of:

providing a thermally conductive mass having a plurality of throughbores extending through first and second ends;

forming each of the throughbores in a helical path between opposed ends;

mounting a heater means in the thermally conductive mass concentrically within and surrounded by the plurality of throughbores, the heater means supplying heat, when activated, to the thermally conductive mass; and

fluidically coupling a fluid inlet to one end of each of the plurality of throughbores and a fluid outlet to each of the other ends of the throughbores to define at least one parallel flow path between the inlet and the outlet through the plurality of throughbores wherein fluid in the throughbores absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass.

40. A method for heating fluid comprising the steps of:

proving a thermally conductive mass having a plurality of throughbores extending through first and second ends;

arranging the throughbores in first and second concentric, circumferentially spaced rings about the thermally conductive mass;

mounting a heater means in the thermally conductive mass concentrically within and surrounded by the plurality of throughbores, the heater means supplying heat, when activated, to the thermally conductive mass; and

fluidically coupling a fluid inlet to one end of each of the plurality of throughbores and a fluid outlet to each of the other ends of the throughbores to define at least one parallel flow path between the inlet and the outlet through the plurality of throughbores wherein fluid in the throughbores absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass.

41. The method of claim 40 further comprising the step of:

forming the maximum cross sectional dimension area of the bores in the first innermost ring less than the maximum cross sectional dimension of the throughbores in the second outermost ring.