Fluid heater temperature balancing apparatus

• US 6,952,524 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2002
• Issued: 10/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems Incorporated (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems Incorporated (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Faucon, Franck, Bissonnette, Lee A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CAMPBELL, THOR S
• Application Number:
  US10/306,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20040101293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 392/465, 392/466, 392/480, 392/484, 137334-341
• 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: 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 flowing through the thermally conductive body in a flow path enveloping the heat source to absorb heat from the body. A seal member and a metal plate are fixed to one surface of the thermal body. A high thermally conductive pad is disposed between a printed circuit board carrying a control with heat generating switch elements. The pad conducts heat generated by control switching elements to the plate to reduce the temperature differential between the plate and the thermally conductive body to balance the temperature of the heater apparatus.

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 heating means so that fluid in the fluid flow path absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass;

control means, connected to the heating means, for activating the heating means, the control means including a printed circuit board;

a thermally conductive medium coupled in heat transfer relationship between at least a portion of the control means and the thermally conductive mass to minimize a temperature differential between the thermally conductive mass and the ambient environment, the thermally conductive medium disposed in contact between the printed circuit board and the thermally conductive mass; and

a thermal insulating member disposed between the thermally conductive mass and the thermally conductive medium.

2. 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 heating means so that fluid in the fluid flow path absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass;

control means, connected to the heating means, for activating the heating means;

a thermally conductive medium coupled in heat transfer relationship between at least a portion of the control means and the thermally conductive mass to minimize a temperature differential between the thermally conductive mass and the ambient environment;

a thermal insulating member disposed on at least one surface of the thermally conductive mass;

a thermally conductive plate joined to the thermal insulating member and the thermally conductive mass; and

wherein

the thermally conductive medium is disposed in heat transfer relationship between the control means and the thermally conductive plate to transfer heat generated by the control means to the plate.

3. 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 heating means so that fluid the fluid flow path absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass;

control means, connected to the heating means, for activating the heating means, the control means including a printed circuit board;

a thermally conductive medium coupled in heat transfer relationship between at least a portion of the control means and the thermally conductive mass to minimize a temperature differential between the thermally conductive mass and the ambient environment, the thermally conductive medium disposed in contact between the printed circuit board and the thermally conductive mass; and

a thermal insulating member disposed between the thermally conductive mass and the thermally conductive medium.

4. 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 heating means so that fluid in the fluid flow path absorbs beat from the thermally conductive mass;

control means, connected to the heating means, for activating the heating means;

a thermally conductive medium coupled in heat transfer relationship between at least a portion of the control means and the thermally conductive mass to minimize a temperature differential between the thermally conductive mass and the ambient environment;

a thermal insulating member disposed on at least one surface of the thermally conductive mass;

the thermally conductive medium including a thermally conductive plate joined to the thermal insulating member and the thermally conductive mass; and

wherein

the thermally conductive plate is disposed in heat transfer relationship between the control means and the thermally conductive mass to transfer heat generated by the control means to the plate.

5. 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 heating means so that fluid in the fluid flow path absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass;

control means, connected to the heating means, for activating the heating means, the control means including a printed circuit board;

a thermally conductive medium coupled in heat transfer relationship between at least a portion of the control means and the thermally conductive mass to minimize a temperature differential between the thermally conductive mass and the ambient environment, the thermally conductive medium disposed in contact between the printed circuit board and the thermally conductive mass; and

a thermal insulating member disposed between the thermally conductive mass and the thermally conductive medium.

6. 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 heating means so that fluid in the fluid flow path absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass;

control means, connected to the heating means, for activating the heating means;

a thermally conductive medium coupled in heat transfer relationship between at least a portion of the control means and the thermally conductive mass to minimize a temperature differential between the thermally conductive mass and the ambient environment;

a thermally insulating member disposed on at least one surface of the thermally conductive mass;

a thermally conductive plate joined to the thermal insulating member and the thermally conductive mass; and

wherein

the thermally conductive medium is disposed in heat transfer relationship between the control means and the thermally conductive plate to transfer heat generated by the control means to the plate.

7. 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 heating means so that fluid in the fluid flow path absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass;

control means, connected to the heating means, for activating the heating means, the control means including a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board including at least one bore extending therethrough the at least one bore fludically coupling the control means to a thermally conductive medium; and

the thermally conductive medium coupled in heat transfer relationship between at least a portion of the control means and the thermally conductive mass to minimize a temperature differential between the thermally conductive mass and the ambient environment.

8. The heater apparatus of claim 7 wherein the thermally conductive medium comprises:

a member formed of a high thermally conductive material.

9. The heater apparatus of claim 7 wherein the control means further comprises:

a printed circuit board, the thermally conductive medium disposed in contact between the printed circuit board and the thermally conductive mass.

10. The heater apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

bores extending through the printed circuit board communication to the thermally conductive medium.

11. The heater apparatus of claim 7 wherein the control means further comprises:

temperature sensor means, coupled to the control means, for generating an output signal proportional to the temperature of the thermally conductive mass.

12. The heater apparatus of claim 7 wherein:

the heat conductive medium is disposed to conduct heat generated by the control means to the thermally conductive mass to reduce a temperature differential between the thermally conductive mass and the ambient environment.

13. The heater apparatus of claim 7 wherein the fluid flow path comprises:

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.

14. The heater apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first and second flow path portions are disposed in fluid flow communication substantially at the center of the thermally conductive mass.

15. The heater apparatus of claim 7 wherein the heating means comprises:

at least one heater element mounted in the mass.

16. The heater apparatus of claim 15 wherein the heating means comprises:

a plurality of heater elements mounted in the mass.

17. The heater apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

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

18. The heater apparatus of claim 7 wherein the heating means comprises:

a calrod.

19. The heater apparatus of claim 7 wherein the heating means is disposed in the thermally conductive mass and substantially encompassed by the fluid flow path.

20. 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;

at least one heating element thermally mounted in the thermally conductive mass and substantially contacted by the first and second flow path portions, 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, including power switch means connected to the heating means, for activating the heating means the control means including a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board including at least one bore extending therethrough, the at least one bore fludically coupling the control means to a thermally conductive medium; and

the thermally conductive medium coupled in heat transfer relationship between at least a portion of the control means and the thermally conductive mass to minimize a temperature differential between the thermally conductive mass and the ambient environment.

21. The heater apparatus of claim 20 wherein the thermally conductive medium comprises:

a member formed of a high thermally conductive material.

22. The heater apparatus of claim 20 wherein the control means further comprises:

a printed circuit board, the thermally conductive medium disposed in registry between the printed circuit board and the thermally conductive mass.

23. The heater apparatus of claim 20 further comprising:

bores extending through the printed circuit board in fluid communication with the thermally conductive medium.

24. The heater apparatus of claim 20 wherein the control means further comprises:

temperature sensor means, coupled to the control means, for generating an output signal proportional to the temperature of the thermally conductive mass.

25. The heater apparatus of claim 20 wherein:

the thermally conductive medium is disposed to conduct heat generated by the control means to the thermally conductive mass to reduce a temperature differential between the thermally conductive mass and the ambient environment.

26. The heater apparatus of claim 20 wherein the heating means comprises:

a plurality of heater elements mounted in the mass.

27. The heater apparatus of claim 20 further comprising:

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

28. The heater apparatus of claim 20 wherein the heating means comprises:

a calrod.

29. 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 apparatus including;

a thermally conductive mass having an inlet and an outlet;

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;

control means, connected to the heating means, for activating the heating means, the control means including a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board including at least one bore extending therethrough, the at least one bore fluidically coupling the control means to a thermally conductive medium; and

the thermally conductive medium coupled in heat transfer relationship between at least a portion of the control means and the thermally conductive mass to minimize a temperature differential between the thermally conductive mass and the ambient environment.

30. The heater apparatus of claim 29 wherein the heat conductive medium comprises:

a member formed of a high thermally conductive material.

31. The heater apparatus of claim 29 wherein the control means further comprises:

a printed circuit board, the heat conductive medium disposed in registry between the printed circuit board and the thermally conductive mass.

32. The heater apparatus of claim 31 further comprising:

bores extending through the printed circuit board in fluid communication with the heat conductive medium.

33. The heater apparatus of claim 29 wherein the control means further comprises:

temperature sensor means, coupled to the control means, for generating an output signal proportional to the temperature of the thermally conductive mass.

34. The heater apparatus of claim 29 wherein:

the heat conductive medium is disposed to conduct heat generated by the control means to the thermally conductive mass to reduce a temperature differential between the thermally conductive mass and the ambient environment.