Vehicle windshield cleaning system

• US 7,657,961 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Uusi LLC (Nartron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SBR Investments Co LLC
• Inventors: Shank, David, Washeleski, John, Strom, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham; Gary K
• Application Number:
  US11/688,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20070284457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 1525001-25005, 152/503, 239/130, 239/284.1, 239/284.2, 239/135, 239/128, 239/139, 392/465, 392/478, 392/480, 392/488
• US Class Current: 15/250.02
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/10 responsive to temperature or viscosity of liquid or other fluent material discharged
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/002 incorporating means for heating or cooling, e.g. the material to be sprayed
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/482 combined with the operation of windscreen wipers
• 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: B60S 1/50 Arrangement of reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/105 formed by the tube through which the fluid flows
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/188 with means for compensating water expansion
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/202 with resistances

Abstract

Apparatus and method for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface. The apparatus has an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid; an outlet port for dispensing an amount of heated fluid; a heating element coil or tube covered with a plastic sheath that heats up fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet; and a control circuit for energizing at least a portion of the heating element with a voltage to heat the fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet. The apparatus also has expandable and compressible features and parts for protection against freezing.

Claims

1. Apparatus for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a motor vehicle surface comprising:

a) a heating vessel having a vessel interior and an inlet and outlet port, said vessel for heating fluid that passes from the inlet to the outlet through said vessel interior;

b) a heater positioned within the heating vessel interior that is at least partially submerged within fluid in said vessel interior and comprises a heat conducting wall that defines a back and forth interior passageway for conducting heat to the fluid as the fluid moves from the inlet to the outlet port through the passageway;

c) a user operated control for dispensing fluid onto the motor vehicle surface;

d) a controller coupled to the user operated control comprising;

i) an energizing component coupled to the heater for providing an energizing voltage to heat the heat conducting wall of the heater and thereby heat fluid passing through the interior passageway from the inlet to the outlet in response to user actuation of the user control, and

ii) an integral wiper motor control for actuating a motor vehicle surface wiper as heated fluid is dispensed from the heating vessel in response to said user actuation.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller has a controller housing and further wherein a wiper arm motor assembly is supported within the controller housing.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a washer pump control is integrally housed with the controller.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a controller housing and further comprising circuitry for communicating with vehicle components external to a controller housing.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a housing supporting the controller and further wherein said housing supports a wiper arm assembly.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a single motor both pumps fluid through the vessel and provides motive power to drive the motor vehicle surfaces wiper.