GB2271712A

GB2271712A - Windscreen washing system with heated reservoir

Info

Publication number: GB2271712A
Application number: GB9320602A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher John Anthony Hurst; Stephen Duncalf; Paul Coyle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-10-20
Filing date: 1993-10-06
Publication date: 1994-04-27
Also published as: GB9320602D0; GB9221965D0

Abstract

A motor vehicle windscreen washing system comprises a reservoir (16) for washing water and heat exchanger, preferably a copper coil (20), in the reservoir and connected in series to the engine block coolant system of the motor vehicle. The supply to the heat exchanger may be through the cap or the wall of the reservoir. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Improvements in and relating to motor vehicle windscreen washing systems DESCRIPTION This invention concerns improvements in and relating to motor vehicle windscreen washing systems.

All modern motor vehicles have a system for cleaning their windscreen while the vehicle is being driven. The system involves pumping water from a supply vessel (water bottle), usually situated in the engine compartment of the vehicle, through tubing to one or more spray nozzles for directing the . water onto the windscreen. To enhance the cleaning effect of the water detergent may be added to the water and usually operation of the pump is linked to operation of the windscreen wipers to act simultaneously with water being sprayed onto the windscreen.

Unfortunately during winter the water in the washer bottle can freeze, so that the windscreen, washing system is inoperative. In addition, cold water is not necessarily an effective cleaner on its own. Hence, the desirability of adding detergent to the wash water.

An object of this invention is to provide a motor vehicle windscreen washing systems that does not suffer from the above-mentioned disadvantages.

According to the present invention it is proposed that a motor vehicle windscreen washing system, include a reservoir for washing water which has means for heating the water therein.

It is preferred that said heating means comprise a heat exchanger within the reservoir wherein heated water is passed through a pipe, tube or the like within the reservoir whereby heat therefrom is transferred to the water within the reservoir. The pipe, tube or the like preferably includes one or more turns, such as to form a coil or an undulating shape. The pipe, tube or the like may conveniently fit through a cap for the reservoir or may have an inlet and/or an outlet through a wall of the reservoir.

Heated water for the heat exchanger may conveniently be provided as the engine coolant water exiting the engine block of the motor vehicle. The engine coolant water is normally fed to a heat exchanger for a heating system for the Interior of the motor vehicle and the heated water can be passed through the washing water reservoir either before or after it passes to the vehicle heating system heat exchanger.

Alternatively, heated water may be diverted from piping carrying the heated water and returned thereto after passing through the washing water reservoir. In either alternative it may be necessary to choose the size of pipe for the washing water reservoir carefully so as not to inhibit the water flow unduly.

The material used for the pipe, tube or the like through the washing water reservoir is preferably of a highly heat conductive material. Copper piping is preferred as that material.

It has been found that water exiting from the engine block is at about 900C and so is sufficiently hot to melt ice on the washing water reservoir fairly quickly and to maintain the washing water at a temperature of about 65-700C which is sufficient to enhance its cleaning action on the windscreen. The heated washing water can also be used to clear ice from a motor vehicle windscreen.

This invention will now be further described; by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a schematic illustration of the invention Referring to the accompanying drawing, an engine block 10 of a motor vehicle has cooling water passing through it. Cool water enters through inlet pipe 12 and heated water exists through outlet pipe 14. The heated water normally passes through a heat exchanger (not shown) over which air can be drawn to provide heated air for the motor vehicle interior. After the heat exchanger the still hot water is passed through a radiator (not shown) where it is cooled by a fan and by air passing through openings of the radiator being positioned at the front of the vehicle behind the protective grill.

The heated water is, in accordance with the invention, passed through a vessel 16 containing water used to wash the motor vehicle windscreen either before or after the heating system heat exchanger. Water from the vessel 16 is usually pumped by means of an electrically operated pump through an outlet pipe 18 to spray nozzles located at the foot of the windscreen arranged to spray the water onto the windscreen for cleaning.

The heated water is actually passed through a, preferably copper, coil 20 in the vessel 16 so as to heat up the water in the vessel. The coil 20 is preferably of the same or nearly the same box size as the pipe 14 so as not to inhibit the flow of water through the heating/coiling system of the motor vehicle.

The heated water passing through the vessel may actually unfreeze water in the vessel so that the water windscreen can be cleaned shortly after the motor vehicle engine is started. Water passing through the engine block becomes hot fairly quickly Once the water in the vessel 16 has become heated say upto about 600C, it has an improved cleaning effect on a motor vehicle windscreen.

In an alternative embodiment, the pipe carrying heated water into the vessel 16 is not a continuation of the heating/cooling system but is a take-off therefrom.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle windscreen washing system Including a reservoir for washing water and means for heating the water in the reservoir.

2. A motor vehicle windscreen washing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating means comprises a heat exchanger within the reservoir.

3. A motor vehicle windscreen washing system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the heat exchange comprises G pipe, tube or the like in the reservoir and through which heated water is passed.

4. A motor vehicle windscreen washing system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pipe, tube or the like includes one or more turns.

5. A motor vehicle windscreen washing system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pipe, tube or the like is in the form of a coil.

6. A motor vehicle windscreen washing system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pipe, tube or the like has an undulating shape.

7. A motor vehicle windscreen washing system as claimed in any one of claims 3 to. 6, wherein the pipe, tube or the like has its inlet and/or outlet through a cap of the reservoir.

8. A motor vehicle windscreen washing system as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the pipe, tube or the like has its inlet and/or outlet through a wall of the reservoir.

9. A motor vehicle windscreen washing system as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein heated water for the system is supplied by engine coolant water exiting an engine block of the motor vehicle.

10. motor vehicle windscreen washing system as claimed in any one of the claims 3 to 9, wherein the pipe, tube or the like is made of highly heat conductive material.

L motor vehicle windscreen washing system as claimed in claimlO, wherein the pipe, tube ot the like is made of copper.

12. A motor vehicle windscreen washing system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.