Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Attachments – Optical-member-attachable cleaner
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-03
2003-09-09
Warden, Sr., Robert J. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Attachments
Optical-member-attachable cleaner
C015S250010, C015S250050, C239S284100, C239S135000, C239S128000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06615438
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to fluid heating, and specifically to heating of a fluid for the purpose of cleaning or de-icing an automobile window.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various methods and devices are known in the art for providing a spray of heated water or other washing fluid onto the windows of a vehicle. The heated fluid is particularly advantageous in removing ice from the vehicle windshield in cold weather. This ice removal function requires that a driver of the vehicle wait while the fluid is heated, before the windshield can be de-iced. Methods and devices known in the art are impractical for this purpose, however, since they typically use heat or electricity generated by the vehicle engine itself to heat the fluid, requiring the driver to wait an unacceptably long time for the fluid to reach a suitable temperature.
Using the vehicle battery to heat the fluid, independent of the vehicle engine, is also problematic because of the large current draw required to heat a sufficient quantity of fluid to effectively de-ice the windshield. The battery cannot typically provide sufficient current to heat the vehicle's entire reservoir of washing fluid in a reasonable amount of time. Although methods and devices have been suggested for heating the fluid on-line, as it is about to be sprayed on the windshield, the battery also cannot provide enough current to heat a spray of sufficient volume to a high enough temperature to achieve effective de-icing.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,606 describes a hot wash device for an automobile windshield, which includes a container into which washing fluid from a reservoir is pumped and in which the fluid is heated by an electrical heating element before it is sprayed onto the windshield. The container is insulated and includes a thermostat that is used to ensure that the temperature of the fluid does not exceed a predetermined maximum. The container is kept full, with heat applied as needed to bring the cold fluid pumped into the container up to the desired temperature.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,040 describes electric apparatus for washing window glass of a vehicle. An insulated container is positioned between a reservoir of cold washing fluid and spray outlets to the vehicle window, in a position lower than the reservoir so as to be kept full of fluid. When the vehicle ignition is turned on, an electric heater heats the fluid in the container and remains active while the vehicle is in use. There is no provision, however, for rapid start-up and heating to de-ice the vehicle window.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,090,668 describes a windshield washing and deicing system which includes a reservoir having a sealed container therein. A pump transfers washer fluid from the reservoir to the container and from the container to a plurality of nozzles. Heated engine coolant is passed through a conduit in the reservoir. Electrical resistance wire heats the fluid in the container whenever the temperature drops below a certain minunum. Solenoid valves direct the spray from the tank to the front or rear window of the vehicle, but there is no suggestion of using the valves for any other fluid control purposes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,977 describes a vehicle window washer in which washer fluid in a reservoir is heated, and in which a pump for spraying the fluid on the vehicle window has a variable outlet pressure. The temperature of the fluid in the reservoir is sensed, and the pump outlet pressure is varied accordingly in an inverse manner with temperature of the washer fluid, so as to maintain a more consistent fluid deposit on the window, as the fluid viscosity changes with temperature.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,965 describes a system for electrically heating a volume of windshield cleaning fluid in a motor vehicle. A vessel is filled with the volume of fluid to be heated, using PTC thermistors or other electrical heating elements. A control circuit regulates the length of time that the fluid is heated, in accordance with a prevailing ambient temperature, before the fluid is sprayed on the windshield. The circuit also prevents operation of the fluid heating when the vehicle engine is not running.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus and methods for cleaning or de-icing a vehicle window.
It is a further object of some aspects of the present invention to provide apparatus and methods that enable rapid start-up of de-icing of a vehicle window.
In preferred embodiments of the present invention, a vessel is provided for heating a washing fluid before the fluid is discharged toward a window of a vehicle. Before the fluid is introduced into the vessel, the vessel is preheated, preferably by passing an electrical current through a heating element in the vessel for about one minute or less. When preheating is completed, the fluid is allowed into the vessel and is rapidly heated by contact therewith, leading to an increase in pressure in the vessel due to vaporization of a portion of the fluid. The fluid is then discharged at a desired temperature and pressure so as to clean and/or de-ice the window.
Although the preheating of the vessel draws only a moderate electrical input from the vehicle battery, it enables a sufficient quantity of hot fluid to be generated for de-icing the window before starting the vehicle more rapidly than in any practical window cleaning system known in the art. Moreover, the pressure generated by vaporization of the fluid helps to clear ice or other blockages that may have formed in tubing or nozzles through which the fluid is sprayed onto the window. It is also noted that spraying the heated fluid on the window's exterior surface effectively defogs its interior surface, as well.
In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, after an initial quantity of the fluid has been heated and discharged from the vessel, a further quantity is introduced into the vessel and immediately heated. Once the further quantity has reached a desired temperature, it too is discharged, preferably after a delay of several seconds. This process continues for repeated heat/discharge cycles, until the window has been completely cleaned and de-iced. Preferably, the heat/discharge cycles are timed in a sequence whose parameters, such as discharge duration and intervals between discharges, are varied in accordance with ambient temperatures of the vehicle and the unheated fluid.
It will be understood that the term “vehicle” as used in the context of the present patent application and in the claims can refer to any type of wheeled vehicle having windows, such as an automobile or truck, as well as to a boat or airplane. Furthermore, the term “window,” although typically referring to the windshield of a vehicle, can refer to any transparent surface, including side and rear windows and outer mirrors, as well as covers of headlights and the like. In addition, whenever the term “cleaning” is used in the present application and in the claims in reference to an action involving spraying heated fluid on a window, the term will be understood to comprehend de-icing, as well. Those skilled in the art will appreciated that the principles of the present invention may be adapted for cleaning and de-icing other surfaces, including internal windows and mirrors, for example, as well as for supplied heated water and fluid for other purposes.
There is therefore provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, apparatus for cleaning a window of a vehicle, including:
a vessel, having an inlet through which a washing fluid is received from a reservoir and an outlet through which the fluid is discharged for cleaning the window; and
a heating element for heating the fluid in the vessel, which element preheats the vessel before the washing fluid is received therein, whereby at least an initial quantity of the fluid is rapidly heated and discharged from the vessel.
Preferably, the vessel is at least partly drained of fluid held therein before the element preheats the vessel, wherein the v
Franco Shlomi
Ivanov Vyshislav
Wodnik Jossef
Balsis Shay
Gottlieb Rackman & Reisman P.C.
Micro-Heat Inc.
Warden, Sr. Robert J.
LandOfFree
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