Windshield washer fluid bottle heater

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11639155-B2
Application number	US-201916551789-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2019
Priority date	Aug 27, 2019
Publication date	May 2, 2023
Grant date	May 2, 2023

Abstract

A disclosed windshield washer fluid storage system includes a fluid storage container with a thermal interface. The thermal interface provides for the transference of thermal energy into the container from a heat producing electrical component. Thermal energy from the component is communicating into the container to cool the component and heat washer fluid within the container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A windshield washer fluid storage system comprising:
a fluid storage chamber defined by side walls, a bottom wall and a top;
a thermal interface on an exterior surface of one of the side walls, bottom wall and top of the fluid storage chamber for transference of thermal energy into the fluid storage chamber, the side walls and the bottom wall, wherein the wall thickness of the side walls decreases in a direction away from the thermal interface; and
cooling fins extending from at least one of the side walls.

2. The windshield washer fluid storage system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the side walls include a wall thickness that varies in a direction away from the thermal interface.

3. The windshield washer fluid storage system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the bottom wall includes an interior surface and the exterior surface.

4. The windshield washer fluid storage system as recited in claim 3 , including a thermally conductive coating on the exterior surface.

5. The windshield washer fluid storage system as recited in claim 1 , including cooling fins extending from the top.

6. A windshield washer fluid storage system comprising:
a fluid storage chamber defined by side walls, a bottom wall and a top; and
a thermal interface on an exterior surface of one of the side walls, bottom wall and top of the fluid storage chamber for transference of thermal energy into the fluid storage chamber, the side walls and the bottom wall including a heat generating electrical device in thermal transferring contact with the thermal interface.

7. The windshield washer fluid storage system as recited in claim 6 , wherein the heat generating electrical device comprises a converter.

8. A windshield washer fluid storage system comprising:
a fluid storage chamber defined by side walls, a bottom wall and a top; and
a thermal interface on an exterior surface of one of the side walls, bottom wall and top of the fluid storage chamber for transference of thermal energy into the fluid storage chamber, the side walls and the bottom wall, wherein the side walls, bottom wall and top are formed from a thermally conductive plastic material.

9. The windshield washer fluid storage system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the thermally conductive plastic material comprises a polycarbonate with between 15% and 25% by volume of one of aluminum nitride and boron nitrate.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Dellock Paul Kenneth
• Glickman David Brian
• Marine Phillip
• Budaj John

Classifications

• B60S1/487 Primary

  the liquid being heated (nozzles provided with heating means B60S1/52) · CPC title

• F28F3/02

  Elements or assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with recesses, with corrugations (F28F3/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H05B3/06

  Heater elements structurally combined with coupling elements or holders · CPC title

• B60S1/50

  Arrangement of reservoir · CPC title

• B60S1/488 Primary

  electrically · CPC title