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US 2003/0141382 A1Published application
Fluid heater with a variable mass flow path
AssigneeValeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
InventorsLee A. Bissonnette, Mark M. Benner, Mark A. Pattison
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid heater apparatus includes a thermally conductive mass formed of a stack of a plurality of lamina, each having apertures for receiving heater element(s) therethrough and apertures which are alignable between opposed ends of the stack to form fluid flow paths. The lamina are rotatably offset from adjacent lamina in one step or groups of two or more lamina each to create helical flow paths in the throughbores.
Claims35
A fluid heater apparatus comprising:
- a thermally conductive mass having a plurality of throughbores extending through first and second ends;
- heater means mounted in the thermally conductive mass concentrically within and surrounded by the plurality of throughbores, the heater means supplying heat, when activated, to the thermally conductive mass;
- and
- a fluid inlet fluidically coupled to one end of each of the plurality of throughbores and a fluid outlet fluidically coupled to each of the other ends of the throughbores to define a parallel flow path between the inlet and the outlet through the plurality of throughbores wherein fluid flowing through the throughbores absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass.
1 more element
A vehicle window wash apparatus comprises:
- a fluid source for supplying wash fluid;
- a fluid discharge device fluidically coupled to the fluid source for discharging fluid pumped from the reservoir;
- heater means disposed in fluid flow communication between the fluid source and the fluid discharge device;
- a controller, coupled to the heater means;
- for supplying power to the heater;
- the heater means including:
- a thermally conductive mass having a plurality of throughbores extending through first and second ends;
- heater means mounted in the thermally conductive mass concentrically within and surrounded by the plurality of throughbores, the heater means supplying heat, when activated, to the thermally conductive mass;
- and
- a fluid inlet fluidically coupled to one end of each of the plurality of throughbores and a fluid outlet fluidically coupled to each of the other ends of the throughbores to define a parallel flow path between the inlet and the outlet through the plurality of throughbores wherein fluid flowing through the throughbores absorbs heat from the thermally conductive mass.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.