Vehicle surfaces cleaning and de-icing system and method

• US 8,391,695 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2007
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: M-Heat Investors, LLC
• Original Assignee: M-Heat Investors, LLC
• Inventors: Ivanov, Vychislav, Rogozinski, Joseph, Arkashovski, Uri
• Primary Examiner(s): CAMPBELL, THOR S
• Application Number:
  US12/374,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20090283605A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,057 Days
• Field of Search: 392/479, 392/468, 392/484
• US Class Current: 392/484
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/488 electrically
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/50 Arrangement of reservoir

Abstract

A liquid heating unit for use in a vehicle surface cleaning and deicing system, the liquid heating unit including a liquid heating assembly, having an inlet through which a washing fluid is received from a reservoir and an outlet through which the fluid is discharged for cleaning at least one vehicle surface, at least one heating element for heating fluid in the liquid heating assembly and a freeze protection element located in the liquid heating assembly, the freeze protection element including a deformable container being deformable in at least two generally perpendicular axial directions.

Claims

1. A liquid heater comprising:

a housing having a continuous, substantially vertical side wall, said side wall defining an area therein and having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet therein;

a first heat dissipation element, having opposing inner and outer surfaces, disposed against a first edge of said housing side wall and orthogonal thereto, said first heat dissipation element having heat transfer projections extending from said inner surface into said area defined by said side wall, said housing and said first heat dissipation element at least partially defining a liquid flow path between said inlet and said outlet; and

a first heating element disposed proximate said outer surface of said first heat dissipation element, said first heating element operative to heat said first heat dissipation element and thereby liquid flowing within said housing along said liquid flow path, said first heating element comprising

a circuit board substrate,

at least one electrical circuit formed on said circuit board substrate, and

at least one heating trace formed over at least a portion of said at least one electrical circuit.

2. A liquid heater according to claim 1 and wherein said at least one heating trace and said at least one electrical circuit are formed of the same material.

3. A liquid heater according to claim 1 and wherein said at least one heating trace and said at least one electrical circuit are formed of different materials.

4. A liquid heater according to claim 1 and wherein said at least one heating trace is formed of a composite material.

5. A liquid heater according to claim 1 and wherein said at least one heating trace includes at least one serpentine heating trace.

6. The liquid heater of claim 1, further comprising:

a first electrically insulative, thermally conductive pad disposed between and in mechanical contact with said first heating element and said first heat dissipation element.

7. The liquid heater of claim 6, further comprising:

a first thermally insulative pad; and

a first pressure plate,

wherein said first thermally insulative pad is disposed against an outer surface of said first heating element and said first pressure plate is disposed against an outer surface of said first thermally insulative pad, said first pressure plate operative to apply pressure against said first heating element, via said first thermally insulative pad, to thereby cause said first heating element to apply pressure against said first heat dissipation element.

8. The liquid heater of claim 1, further comprising:

a second heat dissipation element, having opposing inner and outer surfaces, disposed against a second edge of said housing side wall and orthogonal thereto, opposite said first heat dissipation element, said second heat dissipation element having heat transfer projections extending from said inner surface thereof into said area defined by said side wall, said housing and said second heat dissipation element at least partially defining said liquid flow path between said inlet and said outlet; and

a second heating element disposed proximate said housing and said outer surface of said second heat dissipation element, said second heating element operative to heat said second heat dissipation element and thereby liquid flowing within said housing along said liquid flow path, said second heating element comprising

a circuit board substrate,

at least one electrical circuit formed on said circuit board substrate, and

at least one heating trace formed over at least a portion of said at least one electrical circuit,

wherein said heat transfer projections of said first and second heat dissipation elements are spaced apart within said housing, thereby forming an unobstructed flow path between said inlet and said outlet.

9. The liquid heater of claim 8, further comprising:

a second electrically insulative, thermally conductive pad disposed between and in mechanical communication with said second heating element and said second heat dissipation element.

10. The liquid heater of claim 8, further comprising:

a second thermally insulative pad; and

a second pressure plate,

wherein said second thermally insulative pad is disposed against an outer surface of said second heating element and said second pressure plate is disposed against an outer surface of said second thermally insulative pad, said second pressure plate operative to apply pressure against said second heating element, via said second thermally insulative pad, to thereby cause said second heating element to apply pressure against said second heat dissipation element.