Vehicle windshield cleaning system

• US 7,673,814 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2008
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Uusi LLC (Nartron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SBR Investments Co LLC
• Inventors: Washeleski, John, Mitchell, John, Strom, Peter, Shank, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorman; Darren W
• Application Number:
  US12/182,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20080283629A1
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 239/13, 239/75, 239128-130, 239/135, 239/284.1, 239/284.2, 392/441, 392/443, 392/447, 392449-451, 392/455, 392/458, 392/459, 392/461, 392/465, 392/468, 392/471, 392/478, 392/480, 392/481, 392/485, 392/488, 219/202, 165/41, 165/42
• US Class Current: 239/284.1
• 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 1/487 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 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.

Claims

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

a. an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid;

b. a heating reservoir for heating fluid entering the inlet port;

c. an outlet port in fluid communication with the heating reservoir for dispensing an amount of heated fluid;

d. a heating element contacting fluid in the reservoir for heating fluid that passes through said reservoir from the inlet to the outlet;

e. a temperature sensor thermally coupled to the heating element; and

f. a control circuit for energizing at least a portion of the heating element with a voltage to heat the heating element and the fluid contacting the heating element passing from the inlet to the outlet, said control circuit i) responding to a user input by monitoring a temperature signal from the temperature sensor and ii) if the sensed temperature of the heating element is below a predetermined value, energizing the heating element with said voltage until the sensed temperature of the heating element reaches a desired heating element temperature that maintains a cleaning fluid temperature below a boiling point of the cleaning fluid, and iii) activates a pump for dispensing fluid from the outlet port against the vehicle surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control circuit selectively energizes and de-energizes at least a portion of the heating element based on input from the temperature sensor to prevent the fluid from reaching a boiling point of the fluid.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the control circuit prevents the fluid from being heated to temperatures above 150 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heating element is supported on the reservoir.