GB2044084A

GB2044084A - Vehicle windscreen washer

Info

Publication number: GB2044084A
Application number: GB8008796A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-03-15
Filing date: 1980-03-14
Publication date: 1980-10-15

Abstract

A vehicle windscreen washer comprising a heat exchanger (1) or a heat sink (6) mounted in a header tank (2) of a vehicle radiator (3), the heat exchanger (1) or heat sink (2) being connected between a washing liquid pump and a nozzle for directing washing liquid onto a windscreen whereby the washing liquid will be heated by heat exchange with water in the radiator (3) before being directed onto the windscreen. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicle windscreen washer This invention relates to vehicle windscreen washers.

Vehicles, and in particular motor vehicles are generally fitted with a windscreen washer which is operable in conjunction with the windscreen wipers of the vehicle to wash and wipe the windscreen of the vehicle. Such windscreen washers (hereinafter and in the claims hereof referred to as "a windscreen washer of the kind described") generally comprise a reservoir for washing liquid, the washing liquid generally comprising water with or without the addition of a suitable detergent or other solvent, at least one nozzle for directing washing liquid onto the windscreen of the vehicle, and a pump for pumping washing liquid from the reservoir to the at least one nozzle, the reservoir, pump and at least one nozzle being interconnected by suitable tubing which is usually small-bore flexible plastics tubing.

Whilst windscreen washers of the kind described, in conjunction with the conventional windscreen wipers, are efficient at removing mud and similar road grime from the windscreens of vehicles they are not at all efficient at removing oil, grease and the like which is frequently contained in the road grime which becomes deposited on vehicle windscreens, despite the fact that the washing liquid may contain a detergent or other solvent. Such oil, grease and the like is usually spread by the windscreen wipers across the windscreen so that it forms a film over the windscreen which can be extremely troublesome, particularly when driving at night when it tends to diffract the light from the headlights of oncoming vehicles and so interfere with the vision of the driver.

The present invention provides in a vehicle having a radiator, a windscreen washer comprising a reservoir for washing liquid, at least one nozzle for directing washing liquid onto the windscreen of the vehicle, a pump for pumping washing liquid from the reservoir to the at least one nozzle, and a heat exchanger or heat sink mounted in a header tank of the radiator and connected between said pump and said at least one nozzle whereby washing liquid pumped from said reservoir will be caused to pass through said heat exchanger or heat sink in heat exchange relation with water in the radiator before being discharged through said at least one nozzle.

It is well known that dirt and grime, particularly dirt and grime containing oil or grease, can better be washed from surfaces with a warm or hot washing liquid than with a cold washing liquid. The present invention enables hot or warm washing liquid to be used on the windscreen of a motor vehicle instead of the conventional cold washing liquid and, in consequence, provides a more efficient windscreen washer for vehicles.

The invention will be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a heat-exchanger forming the heating means of a windscreen washer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the heat exchanger of Figure 1, Figures 3 and 4 are views similar to Figures 1 and 2 of a heat sink forming the heating means of a windscreen washer according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the heat-exchanger illustrated therein comprises a coil 1 of small bore metal tubing which is contained in the header tank 2 of the radiator 3 of a motor vehicle. Extending out of the header tank 2 are an inlet end 4 and an outlet end 5 of the coil 1. The interior of the coil 1 is connectable into the washing liquid circuit of a conventional windscreen washer e.g., between the pump (not shown) and at least one nozzle (not shown) of the washer circuit by means of the conventional flexible plastics tubing which can be connected to the inlet end 4 and outlet end 5 of the coil so that washing liquid will pass through the coil 1 before passing to the at least one nozzle.The coil 1 is so located within the header tank 2 that it will be at least partially submerged in the hot cooling water passing from the engine of the vehicle to the radiator 3, thereby heating the washing liquid in or passing through the coil 1.

The embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, in which like parts have been given like references, is similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 except that the coil 1 is replaced by a heat sink 6. An inlet tube 7 and an outlet tube 8 extend out of the header tank 2 and enable the interior of the heat sink 6 to be connected into the windscreen washer circuit in similar manner to the coil 1.

The embodiments of Figures 1 and 2 and Figures 3 and 4 are better incorporated in a vehicle during the manufacture of the vehicle or when replacing the radiator of a vehicle.

It will readily be appreciated that not only does the present invention provide simple and inexpensive means for heating the washing liquid of a vehicle windscreen washer but that such means makes use of waste heat from the engine of the vehicle.

1. In a vehicle having a radiator, a windscreen washer comprising a reservoir for washing liquid, at least one nozzle for directing washing liquid onto the windscreen of the vehicle, a pump for pumping washing liquid from the reservoir to the at least one nozzle, and a heat exchanger or heat sink mounted in a header tank of the radiator and connected between said pump and said at least one nozzle whereby washing liquid pumped from said reservoir will be caused to pass through said heat exchanger or heat sink in heat exchange relation with water in the radiator before being discharged through said at least one nozzle.

2. Awindscreen washer according to claim 1, wherein said heat exchanger comprises a heatexchange coil or a heat-exchange loop.

3. Awindscreen washer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said heat exchanger or heat sink has an inlet and an outlet which extend through a wall of

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Vehicle windscreen washer This invention relates to vehicle windscreen washers. Vehicles, and in particular motor vehicles are generally fitted with a windscreen washer which is operable in conjunction with the windscreen wipers of the vehicle to wash and wipe the windscreen of the vehicle. Such windscreen washers (hereinafter and in the claims hereof referred to as "a windscreen washer of the kind described") generally comprise a reservoir for washing liquid, the washing liquid generally comprising water with or without the addition of a suitable detergent or other solvent, at least one nozzle for directing washing liquid onto the windscreen of the vehicle, and a pump for pumping washing liquid from the reservoir to the at least one nozzle, the reservoir, pump and at least one nozzle being interconnected by suitable tubing which is usually small-bore flexible plastics tubing. Whilst windscreen washers of the kind described, in conjunction with the conventional windscreen wipers, are efficient at removing mud and similar road grime from the windscreens of vehicles they are not at all efficient at removing oil, grease and the like which is frequently contained in the road grime which becomes deposited on vehicle windscreens, despite the fact that the washing liquid may contain a detergent or other solvent. Such oil, grease and the like is usually spread by the windscreen wipers across the windscreen so that it forms a film over the windscreen which can be extremely troublesome, particularly when driving at night when it tends to diffract the light from the headlights of oncoming vehicles and so interfere with the vision of the driver. The present invention provides in a vehicle having a radiator, a windscreen washer comprising a reservoir for washing liquid, at least one nozzle for directing washing liquid onto the windscreen of the vehicle, a pump for pumping washing liquid from the reservoir to the at least one nozzle, and a heat exchanger or heat sink mounted in a header tank of the radiator and connected between said pump and said at least one nozzle whereby washing liquid pumped from said reservoir will be caused to pass through said heat exchanger or heat sink in heat exchange relation with water in the radiator before being discharged through said at least one nozzle. It is well known that dirt and grime, particularly dirt and grime containing oil or grease, can better be washed from surfaces with a warm or hot washing liquid than with a cold washing liquid. The present invention enables hot or warm washing liquid to be used on the windscreen of a motor vehicle instead of the conventional cold washing liquid and, in consequence, provides a more efficient windscreen washer for vehicles. The invention will be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a heat-exchanger forming the heating means of a windscreen washer according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the heat exchanger of Figure 1, Figures 3 and 4 are views similar to Figures 1 and 2 of a heat sink forming the heating means of a windscreen washer according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the heat-exchanger illustrated therein comprises a coil 1 of small bore metal tubing which is contained in the header tank 2 of the radiator 3 of a motor vehicle. Extending out of the header tank 2 are an inlet end 4 and an outlet end 5 of the coil 1. The interior of the coil 1 is connectable into the washing liquid circuit of a conventional windscreen washer e.g., between the pump (not shown) and at least one nozzle (not shown) of the washer circuit by means of the conventional flexible plastics tubing which can be connected to the inlet end 4 and outlet end 5 of the coil so that washing liquid will pass through the coil 1 before passing to the at least one nozzle.The coil 1 is so located within the header tank 2 that it will be at least partially submerged in the hot cooling water passing from the engine of the vehicle to the radiator 3, thereby heating the washing liquid in or passing through the coil 1. The embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, in which like parts have been given like references, is similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 except that the coil 1 is replaced by a heat sink 6. An inlet tube 7 and an outlet tube 8 extend out of the header tank 2 and enable the interior of the heat sink 6 to be connected into the windscreen washer circuit in similar manner to the coil 1. The embodiments of Figures 1 and 2 and Figures 3 and 4 are better incorporated in a vehicle during the manufacture of the vehicle or when replacing the radiator of a vehicle. It will readily be appreciated that not only does the present invention provide simple and inexpensive means for heating the washing liquid of a vehicle windscreen washer but that such means makes use of waste heat from the engine of the vehicle. CLAIMS

3. Awindscreen washer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said heat exchanger or heat sink has an inlet and an outlet which extend through a wall of the header tank to the exterior of the radiator and wherein said inlet is connected to the outlet of the pump by flexible tubing engaged thereover and said outlet is connected to said at least one nozzle by flexible tubing engaged thereover.

4. For a windscreen washer as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, a vehicle radiator having a header tank and a heat exchanger or heat sink mounted in said header tank, said heat exchanger or heat sink having an inlet and an outlet which extend through a wall of the header tank to the exterior of the radiator whereby said inlet can be connected to the outlet of a washing liquid pump and said outlet can be connected to at least one nozzle for directing washing liquid onto the windscreen of a vehicle.

5. A windscreen washer substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

6. A vehicle radiator substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.