JPS59227541A - Window washer solution warmer for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify a device in structure as well as to make setting operation ever so easy, by installing a joint for keeping up a heat exchange tube in position midway in a washer solution hose. CONSTITUTION:An engine 1 and a radiator 2 are coupled with each other through each of cooling water circulating hoses 3 and 4. Cooling water is heated by the engine 1, passing through the hose 3 and reaching to the radiator 2 in which it is cooled. The cooled water goes back to the engine 1 by way of the hose 4 and cools the engine but itself is reheated and flows into the radiator 2 by way of the hose 3 again. Space between a heat exchange tube 8 and a washer solution hose 7, there are provided with joints 9 and 9 which couple them together with each other. Washer solution enters the hose 7 from a tank 5 via a pump 6 and stays in the tube for some time during which it is warmed by heat of the cooling water. The warmed washer solution is sprayed over a front window through a washer solution injection nozzle 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Technical Field The present invention relates to an automobile window washer fluid warming device that uses the heat of engine cooling water to heat window washer fluid.

(a) Necessity of heating washer fluid Washer fluid physically and chemically removes dirt from automobile windshields.

Since the washer fluid is water or a mixture of water and detergent, its cleaning ability decreases when the temperature is low.

It is thought that the higher the temperature of the washer fluid, the greater its cleaning ability. However, if the temperature is too high, there is a risk of burns. The inventor believes that a suitable temperature range is about 40°C to 70°C.

In the summer, there is no problem because the temperature of the washer fluid in the car rises naturally. However, the inventor thought that in winter, the temperature of the washer liquid is below the optimum temperature range.

(1) Prior art 1 (installed in the exhaust pipe) In order to heat the window washer fluid, there is a heat exchanger installed in the exhaust pipe through which exhaust gas from the engine passes.

In Utility Model Publication No. 53-34662, after warming the washer fluid with engine cooling water, the washer fluid is heated by placing a washer fluid pipe parallel to the exhaust pipe.

In Utility Model Publication No. 52-6987, a washer liquid pipe is wound around the outer wall of the muffler so that it is heated by the heat of the exhaust gas. There is also a way to return the remaining liquid to the tank.

In Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5214757, a steel pipe is bent in a reciprocating direction many times to bring it into contact with the outer wall of the muffler, and a washer liquid is passed through the copper pipe. The contact area between the steel pipe and muffler is wide, and heat exchange efficiency is high.

In Utility Model Publication No. 58-41864, a semi-cylindrical heater is provided on the outside of the muffler. A diversion valve is provided to return the heated washer fluid to the tank.

In Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-52758, fins are protruded from the upper surface of the metal plate to prevent the outer wall of the muffler from being made of metal.

Utility Model Application No. 57-151147 also uses exhaust pipe heating.

The main purpose of these devices that exchange heat with exhaust gas is to heat and melt the frost that forms on the windshield, snow that accumulates, or water droplets that freeze, mainly in cold regions. be. It is not intended to directly improve cleaning performance.

Since it will melt the ice, it is desirable that the temperature is high.

Therefore, a heat exchanger is installed in the exhaust pipe.

However, the temperature of the exhaust gas reaches 250°C to 300°C, and the outer wall of the exhaust pipe is also in a high temperature state of this level.

When the washer fluid is standing still, it will boil, so you need to find some way to return it to the tank and circulate it. The disadvantage is that the mechanism becomes complicated.

The liquid temperature is 80°C to 100°C, which is an unnecessary high temperature in order to improve the cleaning ability. It's also dangerous.

Another drawback is that the parts that exchange heat must be able to withstand high temperatures.

If you want to wrap it around the muffler, you must use copper pipe. If a hollow metal plate is used, this should be aluminum or gunmetal.

As described above, devices that utilize the heat of exhaust gas required a metal heat exchanger, and it was also necessary to constantly circulate the liquid to avoid boiling. The disadvantage is that the mechanism is complicated and the cost is high.

The inventor thought as follows.

2) Prior art 2 (Includes a heater) Some systems are equipped with a separate heating device to heat the washer liquid.

JP-A No. 57-99489 newly provides a heater for heating the washer liquid. Instead of constantly heating with a heater, the heater is turned on only when the washer fluid ejection switch is pressed.

Although there is no danger of boiling, it must be heated instantaneously, so a large current must be passed through the heater. Even if a large current were applied, it would not be sufficient because the heater's Joule heat would be used to heat it.

It consumes extra gasoline and is not economical.

However, its main purpose is to melt ice and snow.

It's a problem when starting up after a long stop, and the engine isn't hot, so using the heater may be unavoidable.

Utility Model Application No. 57-151146 also uses a heater to raise the temperature of the washer fluid.

Providing these heaters separately consumes a large amount of power, is less economical, and is therefore undesirable.

K) Conventional technology 3 (steam injection technology) There is a technology that further pursues the technical goal of heating the washer liquid to a high temperature. If it is a liquid, it cannot be heated above 100'C.

To make it even hotter, it must be turned into steam and ejected.

In Utility Model Application No. 58-20958, the engine coolant is used as it is as a washer fluid and steam is ejected.

The refrigerant that cooled the engine is now a vapor rather than a liquid. The steam is compressed, cooled in a condenser, and liquefied to cool the engine again.

Rather than simply using water's specific heat (heat capacity) to cool the engine, it uses the heat of vaporization to cool the engine.

The cooling system generates high-temperature, high-pressure steam, which is blown onto the front windshield.

This is due to the special structure of the automobile, and its range of use is limited. Additionally, steam is extremely dangerous as it has a temperature of over 100°C. The inventor believes that there is no need for the washer fluid to be at such high temperatures.

(Power) Conventional technology, 4 (Cooling water and heat exchange) (1) Jikko Sho 4
No. 9-28656 (49, 8, 5) creates a heating tank in the engine cooling water circulation system, places an inner tank inside the tank, and guides the washer fluid to the inner tank.
I'm trying to warm it up.

This device requires cutting off the cooling water hose in the middle and connecting about 14 heating tanks between the hoses. The wash liquid hose must also be cut in the middle and connected to the inner tank.

There is also the issue of where and how to fix the heating tank in the space under the hood of the car.

Since a double metal tank is used, heat exchange efficiency is good, but
This is an expensive and large device. It is bulky, difficult to fix, and requires processing of thick hoses or pipes for cooling water. The drawback was that it could not be easily installed on a completed automobile.

(2) Utility Model Publication No. 51-18295 (51,4°27) utilizes the heat of engine cooling water to heat washer fluid and produce hot drinking water. A large heat exchanger is attached to one part of the cooling water pipe leading from the engine to the radiator, and two flexible pipes are passed through the heat exchanger. Washing liquid and drinking water are heated as they pass through their respective pipes.

Since this involves inserting a large heat exchanger into the engine cooling water circulation system, it must be installed already in the process of manufacturing the automobile.

Space and piping issues must be considered from the vehicle design stage. Like the above-mentioned known example, it is large-scale and has space problems, so it cannot be added to a completed automobile later.

The main purpose of this was to obtain hot drinking water, and for this purpose, it was probably thought that a slight increase in process complexity and cost would not be a big problem.

(3) Utility Model No. 57-17850 (57, L29
) is a large-diameter part of the cooling water pipe for heat exchange, and the cooling water tank is sealed inside this part.

Since the outer wall of the tank is in contact with the high temperature water returned from the engine, the washer fluid is heated. Since the entire tank is enclosed, heat exchange efficiency is good.

This also requires a large diameter section to be created in advance in the engine cooling circulation system. Must be installed during vehicle manufacturing. It is impossible to add it later.

Since it uses a double tank made of metal, the cost will be high. Another problem is that the pressure drop of the cooling water increases.

(4) Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-53549 (58, 3, 30) provides a large tank in the engine cooling water system, and exchanges heat with the washer liquid there. They also try to keep the tank warm by covering it with insulation.

This is an insulating material that suppresses the drop in temperature and allows warm washer fluid to come out even when starting up.

However, like its predecessor, this would also be bulky and costly. Since the heat exchanger is covered with a heat insulating material, extra space is required. It should be incorporated when manufacturing automobiles. It cannot be added later.

(5) Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 58-12854 (58, 1, 25,)
Connect the engine and radiator with a thick rubber hose,
Insert a spirally wound steel pipe into the rubber hose,
The washer liquid is heated through a steel pipe. The heated liquid returns to the tank and is stored there.

The purpose of this is to remove frost and ice from the glass at startup. The engine is not hot and the coolant is cold.

The washer fluid was heated during the previous operation, but it is kept warm and used as hot water washer fluid at the next startup.

This requires a thick rubber hose and a copper spiral tube, and all the liquid in the washer tank is circulated and heated.
Poor thermal efficiency. A new circulation pump is required.

During the last run, the washer tank heated up a lot and
Although the temperature is high, most of the heat is dissipated while the vehicle is stopped.

Since cold washer fluid is sprayed onto the windshield at startup, the effect is minimal.

Also, the seal between the steel tube inserted into the hose and the hole creates new problems.

In order to increase the heat retention of the tank, a stainless steel double-walled container is required.

(6) Utility Model Application No. 57-5848 < 57.1.12
) adds a heat exchange cylinder containing a metal spiral tube inside at one point on the cooling water circulation hose that runs from the engine to the radiator.

This is a relatively simple configuration.

All that needs to be added is a heat exchange cylinder.

The heat exchange cylinder is a metal cylinder with connecting fittings protruding from both end plates. Insert the cooling water circulation hose here and secure it. Both end plates also have spiral openings into which the ends of the washer hose are inserted and secured.

The spiral tube is an aluminum or steel tube.

This device could alternatively be added later to a completed vehicle. Regarding this point, I have already mentioned (1)
This is different from the known technology (5).

However, the heat exchange cylinder is still quite large. Inserting it into the narrow space under the hood requires some ingenuity, and there are problems with fixing it. In fact, it is difficult to newly install such a metal cylinder between metal machines. Screw holes must be drilled. Or it may be necessary to weld (11). It would be inappropriate to support such a heavy metal tube with adhesive. Part of the car's configuration will have to be modified. After all, it is difficult to implement.

Even if the cylinder could be fixed, the cooling water hose would have to be cut, and the washer hose would also have to be cut and connected to the heat exchange cylinder.

Also, the heat exchange cylinder itself is quite expensive.

It seems that it is not worth going through such a difficult task just to heat the washer fluid.

After all, this device was also taken into consideration from the design stage,
It should be incorporated during automobile manufacturing. It is not something that can be easily added to a completed car.

(g) Consideration of known technology After examining many known techniques, we found the following.

One is that it has a complex structure and a large number of parts, which tends to result in high costs.

The other problem is that since a new heat exchange tank (12) is inserted into the cooling water circulation system, it is not possible to modify and install it on the completed vehicle.

All heat exchange is done by inserting spiral tubes completely into the cooling water. Since the temperature of the cooling water is about 80°C to 90°C, if a spiral tube is placed in the cooling water, it will be easy to obtain a washer liquid of about 70'C.

However, since the spiral tube is inserted into the cooling water, a metal tube that is strong against heat, chemically, and physically must be used. Must be steel or aluminum pipes.

The inventor believes that consideration should be given to washers.

Washer liquid is not used all the time.

It is sprayed intermittently and only cleans the front windshield. The amount for one time is about 10 cA at most.

If so, it is only necessary to heat the liquid to several tens of cA.

Attempting to heat the entire tank of washer fluid is completely wasteful.

There is no need to raise the temperature to 80°C.

Many of the items mentioned in the previous section require high temperatures because their purpose is to remove ice, frost, snow, etc. from the windshield.

The present invention is not intended to remove ice or frost.

The purpose is to increase the temperature of the liquid and impart chemical activity to increase the cleaning effect.

Ultimately, these known techniques have excessive heat exchanger capacity.

B) Object of the Invention The present invention provides a device for heating washer fluid using heat from engine cooling water.

This device is (1) The structure is simple.

(2) It must be easy to install inside a car.

(3) It must be inexpensive.

(4) Do not take up space.

It must meet the following requirements. The present invention can meet this need.

(2) Structure of the present invention FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of the front part of an automobile to show the structure of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of only the vicinity of the washer fluid warming device.

Engine 1 and radiator 2 are connected to cooling water circulation hose 3.
Connected by 4. The cooling water is heated by the engine 1, passes through the cooling water circulation hose 3, reaches the radiator 2, and is cooled there. The cooled water returns to the engine 1 through the circulation hose 4 to cool the engine, is heated, and flows again through the cooling water circulation hose 3 to the radiator 2.

The washer fluid is supplied from the washer fluid tank 5 by the washer fluid pump 6, and the washer fluid is supplied to the washer fluid hose 7.
Enter.

Normally, the washer fluid hose 7 is directly connected to a washer fluid spray nozzle just in front of the front window, but in the case of the present invention, a heat exchange tube 8 is interposed in the middle.

Between the heat exchanger tube 8 and the washer fluid hose 7 there is a suitable coupling 9.9 connecting them to each other (5).

The cooling water pump 11 supplies cooling water to the engine 1, hose 3,
The fluid is circulated through the radiator 2 and hose 4 in this order.

The washer fluid enters the washer fluid hose 7 from the tank 5 via the pump 6, and is retained in the heat exchange tube 8. Here, it is heated by the heat of the cooling water. The heated washer fluid is sprayed from the washer fluid hose 7, through the washer fluid jetting nozzle 10, onto the front window.

Figure 3 shows a heat exchange tube 8 on the outer periphery of the cooling water circulation hose 3.
FIG. 3 is a partially longitudinal front view of the wound state.

FIG. 4 is a right side view. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the heat exchange tube.

The heat exchange tube 8 is made of flexible synthetic resin. Not steel or aluminum pipes.

As shown in FIG. 5, the cross section of the heat exchange tube 8 includes an outwardly bulging outer surface 12 and a flat contacting inner surface 13.

The outer surface 12 is exposed to the outside when wound into a coil (16) It is a part. It does not come into contact with the cooling water circulation hose 3.

The shape of this part is arbitrary, and may be an arc shape or a shape closer to a square shape.

The contact inner surface 13 is a portion that comes into contact with the cooling water circulation hose 3 when wound into a coil shape. To increase the contact area,
It is flat.

The structure of the present invention is as follows: (1) A heat exchange tube 8 made of flexible synthetic resin, which is wound around the outer periphery of the cooling water circulation boss 3 extending from the engine 1 to the radiator 2 and has a flat contact inner surface 13; (2) A joint 9.9 for connecting the heat exchange tube 8 to the middle of the washer fluid hose 7 that guides the washer fluid from the washer fluid tank 5 to the washer fluid injection nozzle.

(j) Heat exchange tube Since a flexible synthetic resin is used, the heat exchange tube 8 may be manufactured as follows.

A tube with a cross section consisting of a flat contact inner surface 13 and a bulged (approximately circular) outer surface 12 is manufactured by extrusion molding. By winding this tube into a coil and applying heat,
Shape the coil. It is preferable that the inner diameter of this shaping coil be slightly narrower than the outer diameter of the cooling water circulation hose 3 to which it is attached.

Cut the coil-shaped tube to an appropriate length. A coiled tube is produced.

The cross-sectional shape is designed to have a wide contact area with the hose 3.
Moreover, the cross-sectional area must be wide.

This is to avoid damaging the restoring force of the tube.

Assuming that the cross section is, for example, arcuate, A in FIG.
CB is an arc, and A day is a straight line. The central angle OA=θ is 1
A temperature of about 80°C or lower is best.

The heat exchange tube 8 is made of flexible synthetic resin, as long as it has a certain degree of heat resistance. For example, nylon 6, nylon 12, etc. are preferable.

Q Coupling The coupling can be of any shape, structure, and material as long as it can connect the heat exchange tube 8 and the washer fluid hose 7.

(b) Installation An excellent feature of the present invention is that it can be easily installed on ready-made automobiles.

One end of the coil-shaped heat exchange tube 8 is stretched and applied to the outer periphery of the cooling water circulation hose 3.

While unwinding the heat exchange tube 8, open the cooling water circulation port 3.
As the tube 8 is turned around the hose 3, the tube 8 is tightly wound around the outer peripheral surface of the hose 3 due to the restoring force of the shape.

Since the tube 8 is always in a coiled shape, when it is wound around the cooling water circulation hose 3, there is no possibility that the other end will hang down and get in the way.

Figure 6 shows the process of winding.

When the heat exchange tube 8 is completely wrapped around the outer circumference of the cooling water circulation port 3, the joints 9 (which may be attached in advance) are attached to both ends.
Insert. Furthermore, the washer fluid hose 7 is sectioned in the middle and connected to the joint 9.

You can actually separate the washer fluid hose 7, or remove one connection end of the hose, connect it to one joint 9 of the heat exchange tube 8, and connect the other end with a new one. A tube may be used to connect to the previously disconnected connection.

(S) Example: The direction A of the flat contact inner surface 13 is 8 mm, and the height K is 8 m.
A heat exchange tube having a cross-sectional shape obtained by cutting an ellipse along the short axis was fabricated from 12 nylon.

The wall thickness is 006 to 9.7 mm. It was wound into a coil to have an inner diameter of 49 mm and was shaped into this shape by applying heat.

This was wrapped 11 turns around a cooling water circulation hose with an outer diameter of 5Q mm. The wrapped part is about 2m.

The cross-sectional area of the internal space of the tube is approximately 50-.

The volume inside the heat exchange tube is 100 d.

The temperature of the washer liquid in the tank was 30°C, and the temperature of the liquid heated in the tube was 48°C.

(g) Effects (1) Unlike conventional systems, there is no need for a double tank or a heat exchange tank with a spiral tube installed inside. The structure is simple.

(2) Since it is only necessary to wrap the heat exchange tube around the outer circumferential surface of the cooling water circulation port and connect both ends to the washer liquid port, the work of installing it in the automobile is a breeze.

(3) The only new additions are heat exchange tubes, fittings, and auxiliary hoses (which may be unnecessary), so they are inexpensive.

(4) Do not install a new tank in the cooling water circulation system. Since the heat exchange tube is simply wrapped around the cooling water circulation hose, it does not take up much space.

There is no problem of fixing the members, which has already been explained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of the front part of an automobile to show the configuration of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of only the vicinity of the washer fluid warming device. FIG. 3 is a partially longitudinal front view of a state in which a heat exchange tube is wound around the outer periphery of a cooling water circulation hose. Figure 4 is a right side view of the same thing. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the heat exchange tube. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the state in which the heat exchange tube is wound around the cooling water circulation hose. 1 ・・・ ・・・ ・・・ en
Gin 2...Radiator 3.4... Cooling water circulation hose 5...
・・・・・・ Washer liquid tank 6 ・・・・・・・・・
Washer fluid pump 7... Washer fluid hose 8... Heat exchange tube 9... Fitting 10...
... Washer liquid injection nozzle 11 ...
Cooling water pump 12...Outer surface 13...Contact From inner surface
Nobushige MatobaPatent applicant
Matex Co., Ltd. (Numa) Figure 1 Figure 2

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A flexible synthetic resin heat exchange tube with a flat contacting inner surface that is wrapped around the outer circumference of the cooling water circulation hose that runs from the engine to the radiator, and a washer liquid from the washer liquid tank to the washer liquid injection nozzle. An automobile window washer fluid heating device characterized by comprising a fitting for connecting a heat exchange tube to the middle of a washer fluid hose that guides the washer fluid. (2) The automobile window washer fluid warming device according to claim (1), wherein the heat exchange tube is made of nylon. (3) The automobile window washer fluid warming device according to claim (1), wherein the heat exchange tube has an arcuate cross-sectional shape.