Motor vehicle windshield washer system
AssigneeCaoutchouc Manufacture et Plastiques
InventorJean-Pierre Bechu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A windshield washer fluid heater, on the engine cooling circuit of an automobile, with an exchange coil 7 around a rigid internal tube 1 which connects the flexible hoses 2 and 3. The exchanger coil 7 is embedded in the polymer material constituting the external envelope element 6 of the flexible hoses 2 and 3. Application to the windshield washing devices of automotive vehicles.
Claims18
A windshield washer system for a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine with an engine coolant system for cooling the engine and for directing heated fluid to a heat exchanger, said coolant system having a plurality of coolant hoses and at least one connection device for connecting at least two of said coolant hoses, said windshield washer system comprising a hose arrangement for conducting windshield washer fluid to a windshield, said windshield washer system comprising:
- said washer fluid hose arrangement being configured to interface with said coolant system at least at one of said at least one connection device;
- said washer fluid hose arrangement comprising at least one heat exchanger coil for transferring heat from said coolant system to said washer fluid hose arrangement;
- said coolant system comprising at least a first coolant hose end and a second coolant hose end;
- at least one of said at least one connection device comprising an internal tube connecting at least said first coolant hose end and said second coolant hose end;
- at least one of said at least one connection device comprising an external envelope disposed about said first coolant hose end, said second coolant hose end and said internal tube and over at least a substantial portion of each of said first coolant hose end and said second coolant hose end;
- said at least one heat exchanger coil being disposed around said internal tube and being disposed adjacent said internal tube along a substantial length of said at least one heat exchanger coil;
- a substantial portion of said at least one heat exchanger coil being substantially embedded within said external envelope;
- said first coolant hose end and said second coolant hose end being held substantially within said external envelope;
- said at least one heat exchanger coil comprising at least one coil body, each said at least one coil body being in the form of a spiral;
- said external envelope having a central section between said first coolant hose end and said second coolant hose end;
- said central section of said external envelope contacting said internal tube over a large surface area of said internal tube;
- and
- said at least one coil body being completely embedded within said external envelope such that said external envelope is disposed substantially completely around said at least one coil body.
A windshield washer system hose connector for connecting sections of hose in an engine cooling system for a motor vehicle having a windshield washer system, which windshield washer system comprises an arrangement of windshield washer fluid hoses for providing windshield washer fluid to a windshield, said hose connector comprising:
- an internal tube for connecting a first hose end and a second hose end;
- said hose connector being configured to receive the first hose end and the second hose end;
- said internal tube comprising a first end a second end;
- said first hose end for being disposed to substantially surround at least a portion of said first end of said internal tube;
- said second hose end for being disposed to substantially surround at least a portion of said first end of said internal tube;
- an external envelope being disposed around said internal tube;
- said external envelope for being disposed around the first hose end and the second hose end and over at least a substantial portion of each of said first hose end and said second hose end;
- at least one heat exchanger coil for containing windshield washer fluid, said at least one heat exchanger coil being disposed around said internal tube to receive heat from said internal tube for heating the windshield washer fluid;
- said at least one heat exchanger coil being disposed adjacent said internal tube along a substantial length of said at least one heat exchanger coil;
- said at least one heat exchanger coil for being disposed between the first hose end and the second hose end;
- a substantial portion of said at least one heat exchanger coil being embedded within said external envelope;
- said first hose end and said second hose end for being held substantially within said external envelope;
- said at least one heat exchanger coil comprising at least one coil body, each said at least one coil body being in the form of a spiral;
- said external envelope having a central section between said first coolant hose end and said second coolant hose end;
- said central section of said external envelope contacting said internal tube over a large surface area of said internal tube;
- and
- said at least one coil body being completely embedded within said external envelope such that said external envelope is disposed substantially completely around said at least one coil body.
The windshield washer system hose connector according to claim 9, further comprising:
- said internal tube comprising a first outlet and a second outlet, each of said first outlet and said second outlet being disposed between said first end and said second end of said internal tube;
- said hose connector being configured to receive a third hose end and a fourth hose end, said third hose end for being disposed to surround at least a portion of said first outlet of said internal tube, said fourth hose end for being disposed to substantially surround at least a portion of sad second outlet of said internal tube;
- said external envelope for being disposed around said third hose end and said fourth hose end and over a substantial portion of each of said third hose end and said fourth hose end;
- said third hose end and said fourth hose end for being held substantially within said external envelope;
- said at least one heat exchanger coil being disposed between said first outlet and said second outlet of said internal tube;
- said internal tube having a varying diameter;
- the diameter of said internal tube being smaller between said first outlet and said second outlet than at either of said first end and said second end.
A method of making a windshield washer system hose connector for connecting sections of hose in an engine cooling system for a motor vehicle having a windshield washer system, which windshield washer system comprises an arrangement of windshield washer fluid hoses for providing windshield washer fluid to a windshield, the washer fluid hose arrangement being configured to interface with the coolant system at least at the hose connector, the washer fluid hose arrangement comprising at least one heat exchanger coil for transferring heat from the coolant system to the washer fluid hose arrangement, the coolant system comprising at least a first coolant hose end and a second coolant hose end, the hose connector comprising:
- an internal tube having a first end and a second end, the internal tube connecting at least the first coolant hose end and the second coolant hose end;
- an external envelope disposed about the first coolant hose end, the second coolant hose end and the internal tube;
- the at least one heat exchanger coil being disposed around the internal tube and being disposed adjacent the internal tube along a substantial length of the at least one heat exchanger coil;
- and
- a substantial portion of the at least one heat exchanger coil being substantially embedded within the external envelope;
- said method of making the hose connector comprising the steps of:
- disposing the at least one heat exchanger coil around the internal tube and adjacent the internal tube along a substantial length of the at least one heat exchanger coil;
- mounting the first coolant hose end on the first end of the internal tube;
- mounting the second coolant hose end on the second end of the internal tube;
- the at least one heat exchanger coil being disposed between the first coolant hose end and the second coolant hose end;
- placing the first coolant hose end, the second coolant hose end, the internal tube and at least a substantial portion of the at least one heat exchanger coil in a mold;
- injecting a plastic material into the mold such that the plastic material flows:
- between the turns of the at least one heat exchanger coil;
- over a substantial portion of the at least one heat exchanger coil;
- over at least a substantial portion of the first coolant hose end;
- over at least a substantial portion of the second coolant hose end;
- and
- about the internal tube;
- and
- hardening the plastic material in the mold to hold the at least one heat exchanger coil, the first coolant hose end, the second coolant hose end and the internal tube substantially within the external envelope.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.