KR20140101620A - Washer liquid heating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus to heat a washer solution and, more specifically, to an apparatus to heat a washer solution stored in a washer tank of an automobile. According to the present invention, the apparatus to heat a washer solution includes: a sensing unit to sense the pressure of the washer solution flowing into the washer storage tank; a heating body to deliver heat to the washer solution; and a control unit to receive a control signal to operate the heating body, based on the sensing results of the sensing unit and controlling the operation of the heating body by corresponding to the control signal.

Description

[0001] WASHER LIQUID HEATING APPARATUS [0002]

The present invention relates to a washer fluid heating apparatus for an automobile, and more particularly to an apparatus for washer fluid heating in a washer tank of an automobile.

The front of the vehicle is equipped with a transparent front glass to prevent the wind from running and to allow the driver to easily see the front clock. Such a windshield needs to be kept clean at all times for a comfortable driving as well as an easy front watch.

Therefore, most drivers wipe the windshield from time to time. And a wiper device that rotates by a driving motor in case the front glass is contaminated during traveling. For example, in the case of rain, it is difficult to secure the watch by muddy water splashed on the windshield. In this case, wipe the windshield by operating the wiper.

However, when only the wiper is operated on the windshield, the wiper blade formed of rubber material may be damaged, and the cleaning efficiency may be reduced. Therefore, the washer fluid spraying Device is provided.

1 is a view schematically showing an installation state of a normal washer liquid injecting apparatus. As shown in Fig. 1, a washer liquid tank 100 for retaining a washer fluid in the engine compartment is provided. A supply pipe 130 for supplying the washer liquid from the washer liquid tank 100 to the nozzles 140 arranged toward the front glass 150 is provided. The nozzle 140 is installed at two places so as to spray the washer liquid toward the normal operation line and the passenger seat. Further, a motor pump 120 for pumping the washer liquid to generate the injection pressure is provided. The motor pump 120 is generally attached to the washer fluid tank 100 and is integrally formed with the washer fluid tank 100. The motor pump 120 is controlled to be turned on / off by the wiper operating knob provided in the driver's seat. When most of the vehicle is sprayed with the washer fluid, the wiper device is simultaneously driven to clean the windshield 150 do.

In the washer fluid tank 100, an injection pipe 110 having an injection port at the upper end is extended upward to replace and replenish the washer liquid. The injection port is provided with a lid 160 for opening and closing the lid 160 for preventing leakage of the washer liquid during driving.

The washer liquid mainly uses a dedicated liquid. In the case of a dedicated liquid, a cleaning agent is included to improve the cleaning efficiency.

Such a washer liquid spraying apparatus has a problem of being frozen in winter, and there may be a problem that the entire washer liquid tank 100 needs to be exchanged accompanied by freezing of the motor pumper 120 severely.

In order to prevent this, conventionally, temperature sensors are provided inside and outside of the washer fluid tank 100 to prevent the washer fluid from being cooled by keeping the washer fluid in the tank always higher than the outside temperature.

However, in an apparatus having a temperature sensor inside and outside the tank, the difference between the internal temperature and the external temperature is sensed to detect the inflow of the washer fluid. In order to maintain the temperature inside the tank always higher than the external temperature, there is a problem that the heating body must be operated, and frequent operation of the heating element leads to unnecessary power consumption.

The present invention relates to an automatic apparatus capable of heating a washer fluid stored in a washer tank of an automobile and at the same time minimizing power consumption.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the washer fluid heating apparatus

A sensing unit sensing a pressure of the washer fluid flowing into the tank;

A heating body for transferring heat to the washer fluid;

And a control unit for receiving a control signal for operating the heating body based on the pressure sensing result of the sensing unit and controlling the operation of the heating element in response to the control signal.

Preferably,

And the sensing unit is a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure of the introduced washer fluid.

Preferably,

The control unit is a field effect transistor (FET) that controls the operation of the heating element in response to an input electrical ON / OFF signal.

Preferably,

And a temperature sensing unit for sensing a temperature of the FET,

And the temperature sensing unit is attached to the FET.

Preferably,

And the electrical ON signal is maintained for the predetermined time.

Preferably,

A central processing unit (CPU) for generating an electrical signal for operating the heating element based on the sensing result of the sensing part; And

And a timer for counting an operation time of the heating element,

And the controller receives the electrical signal and controls the operation of the heating element during the operation time.

Preferably,

And a main printed circuit board (PCB) integrated with the pressure sensor for determining whether the pressure sensor operates,

And the central processing unit and the timer are disposed on the printed circuit board.

Preferably,

And the pressure sensor is an IC pressure sensor.

According to the washer fluid heating apparatus of the present invention, power consumption for washer fluid heating can be minimized by operating the heating element only for a short time period in which a liquid (washer fluid) flows into the washer tank.

According to the washer fluid heating apparatus of the present invention, not only the washer liquid is cooled, but also the washer fluid is heated and maintained at an appropriate temperature, thereby maintaining an optimum state for washing the front glass of an automobile, thereby securing a safe view of the driver .

1 is a view schematically showing an installation state of a normal washer liquid injecting apparatus.
2 is a view schematically showing the construction of a washer fluid heating apparatus according to the present invention.
3 is a flow chart showing the operation of the washer fluid heating apparatus according to the present invention.
4 is a cross-sectional view of a washer fluid heating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a view showing an embodiment of a washer fluid heating apparatus according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, a washer fluid heating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear. In addition, the technical terms described below are defined in consideration of functions and the like in the present invention, and these may be changed according to the intention or custom of the person skilled in the art. Therefore, the definitions of the terms should be judged based on the contents described throughout the specification.

The washer fluid heating apparatus in the present invention not only prevents the washer liquid from being cooled, but also is a device for heating the washer fluid for ensuring a safe view of the driver of each season.

The present invention is characterized by detecting the inflow of the washer fluid by using a pressure sensor to minimize the power consumption of the heating device, and is also characterized in that the operation time of the heating element for heating the washer fluid is minimized.

2 is a view schematically showing the construction of a washer fluid heating apparatus according to the present invention.

The heating apparatus according to the present invention includes a sensing unit 240, a controller 260, and a heating element 270.

The sensing unit 240 senses the pressure of the washer fluid flowing into the washer fluid tank 200.

In the present invention, the sensing unit includes a pressure sensor 230 for sensing the pressure of the washer fluid flowing into the washer fluid tank, a component 240 for automatically reading the pressure value sensed by the pressure sensor and providing it to the CPU 250, Can be referred to.

Alternatively, it may be a concept that includes only the component 240 that automatically reads the pressure value sensed by the pressure sensor 230 and provides it to the CPU 250.

In FIG. 2, the pressure sensor 230 and the sensing unit 240 are constituted by separate independent components. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The pressure sensor 230 may be integrated with the pressure sensor 230.

A feature of the present invention is that a heating operation is performed by operating the heating element 270 only when the washer liquid flows into the washer liquid tank by providing the pressure sensor 230. In the conventional washer fluid tank, There is an effect that unnecessary power consumption can be reduced rather than a structure in which a temperature sensor is provided to always keep the internal temperature higher than the external temperature.

A heating body 270 conveys heat to the washer fluid to perform heating of the washer fluid.

The control unit 260 receives a control signal for operating the heating body from the CPU 250 based on the pressure sensing result of the sensing unit 240. The control unit controls the operation of the heating body 270 in response to the control signal received from the CPU 250. [

The control signal received from the CPU may be an electrical ON signal that causes the heating body 270 to operate for a predetermined period of time as an electrical signal, which may be maintained for a predetermined time.

(Field Effect Transistor) that controls the operation of the heating body 270 in response to an electrical ON / OFF signal inputted from the CPU 250 as a preferred embodiment of the control unit 260 have.

As an example of the control unit 260, the FET may further include a temperature sensor (not shown) attached to the outside to sense the temperature of the FET.

The temperature sensor checks the FET temperature to prevent overheating of the FET. The operation of the excessive heating element 270 is blocked in order to prevent the functional loss of the FET due to an increase in the internal temperature during the long-term operation of the vehicle.

In one embodiment, when the temperature of the FET is 65 ° C or higher, the operation of the heating body 270 is stopped to prevent breakage of the FET which is the control unit.

The washer fluid heating apparatus according to the present invention may further include a central processing unit (CPU) 250 and a timer (not shown).

The central processing unit (CPU) 250 generates an electrical signal for operating the heating body 270 when the washer liquid flows into the washer tank 200 based on the sensing result of the sensing unit 240 do.

The central processing unit (CPU) further includes a timer (not shown), and can count the operation time of the heating element 270. [ That is, when it is detected that there is a washer liquid introduced by the pressure sensor 230, the central processing unit sends an electrical signal for operating the heating element to the control unit 260, and the electric signal can be continuously maintained for a predetermined time counted by the timer will be.

3 is a flow chart showing the operation of the washer fluid heating apparatus according to the present invention.

The washer fluid heating apparatus according to the present invention starts by sensing the washer fluid flowing into the washer fluid tank using the pressure sensor 230 formed on one side of the washer fluid tank (S310).

When sensing that there is an inflow of the washer fluid by the pressure sensor 230, the sensing unit 240 transmits the pressure sensed by the pressure sensor to the CPU, and the CPU 250 controls the electric power for operating the heating element 270 And transmits the signal to the control unit 260. The control unit 260 receives the signal from the CPU and operates the heating body 270. [

When it is determined by the pressure sensor 230 that there is an inflow of the washer fluid, the heating element can be operated for a predetermined period of time.

 The washer liquid tank 200 further includes a washer liquid inlet pipe 210 and a water outlet pipe 220. The inlet pipe prevents the backwash of the washer liquid so that the washer tank 200 is always kept in the washer liquid.

The function for heating the washer fluid that has already been introduced into the washer tank may not be required separately. The washer liquid flowing into the washer tank is designed to prevent freezing by adjusting the percentage of methyl alcohol, so that the operation of the heating body may be required only when there is an inflow of the washer liquid into the washer tank.

It is possible to operate the heating element 270 and stop the operation for a predetermined time (for example, 15 seconds) as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, the heating element is operated for 15 seconds. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may vary depending on the amount of the introduced washer fluid.

Specifically, the CPU 250 may adjust the operation time of the heating element in proportion to the pressure magnitude sensed by the pressure sensor 230.

That is, when the pressure sensed by the pressure sensor 230 is larger than the reference value, the CPU can generate an electrical signal for operating the heating element 270 for a time interval longer than 15 seconds, and the pressure sensor 230 If the sensed pressure is smaller than the reference value, the CPU can generate an electrical signal to operate the heating element 270 for a time interval shorter than 15 seconds.

The operation of the heating element 270 is controlled by the operation of the heating element 270 so that the temperature of the control part (for example, the FET) does not rise above a certain temperature (for example, 65 degrees or more) .

In a typical embodiment of the control unit, when the temperature of the FET is 65 degrees or more, the operation of the heating element 270 is stopped. However, when the temperature of the control unit is less than 65 degrees, the operation of the heating body 270 can be added for a predetermined time interval to raise the temperature of the washer liquid.

4 is a cross-sectional view of a washer fluid heating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the washer fluid heating apparatus according to the present invention, the washer fluid inputted into the water inlet pipe 210 is filled in the washer tank.

4, the pressure sensor 410 is operated by the pressure of the washer fluid, and the pressure sensor 410 is mounted on a main printed circuit board (PCB) 420 generates an electrical signal for operating the heater based on the pressure value sensed by the operation of the pressure sensor 410 and transmits the electrical signal to the control unit 260 of FIG.

A main printed circuit board (PCB) includes a central processing unit (CPU) and a timer to generate an electrical signal for controlling the incoming washer fluid to be heated for a predetermined period of time, 260 of FIG.

One embodiment of the pressure sensor 410 in the present invention is an integrated circuit pressure sensor. The IC pressure sensor is a sensor that has pressure sensor and integrated circuit (IC) built on the same board and adjusts the output signal of the pressure sensor to an electric signal suitable for measurement and control.

The control unit (260 in FIG. 2) receives the electrical signal of the central processing unit (CPU) and controls the operation of the heating element or the heater.

3, when the inflow of the washer fluid is sensed by the pressure sensor 410, the heating element is operated for 15 seconds so that the internal temperature of the washer tank does not exceed 65 degrees.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an embodiment of a washer fluid heating apparatus according to the present invention.

5A is a perspective view of the washer fluid heating apparatus of the present invention. The washer fluid received in the water inlet pipe 210 is heated and stored, and the water outlet pipe 220 is discharged to keep the front glass clean. Fig. 5 (b) is a side view, Fig. 5 (c) is a side sectional view, Fig. 5 (d) is a front view, FIG.

As described above, an optimal embodiment has been disclosed in the drawings and specification. Although specific terms have been employed herein, they are used for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention as defined in the claims or the claims. Therefore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and equivalent embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the true scope of the present invention should be determined by the technical idea of the appended claims.

Washer liquid tank: 200 CPU: 250
Sensing unit: 240 control unit: 260
Pressure sensor: 230 Heating element: 270

Claims (8)

A sensing unit sensing the pressure of the washer fluid flowing into the tank;
A heating body for transferring heat to the washer fluid;
And a control unit for receiving a control signal for operating the heating body based on the pressure sensing result of the sensing unit and controlling the operation of the heating element in response to the control signal. The method according to claim 1,
And the sensing unit is a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure of the introduced washer fluid. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the controller is a field effect transistor (FET) that controls the operation of the heating element in response to an input electrical ON / OFF signal. The method of claim 3,
And a temperature sensing unit for sensing a temperature of the FET,
And the temperature sensing unit is attached to the FET. The method of claim 3,
Wherein the electric ON signal is maintained for the predetermined time. The method according to claim 1,
A central processing unit (CPU) for generating an electrical signal for operating the heating element based on the sensing result of the sensing part; And
And a timer for counting an operation time of the heating element,
Wherein the controller receives the electrical signal and controls the operation of the heating element during the operation time. The method of claim 6,
And a main printed circuit board (PCB) integrated with the pressure sensor for determining whether the pressure sensor operates,
Wherein the central processing unit and the timer are disposed on the printed circuit board. The method of claim 7,
Characterized in that the pressure sensor is an integrated circuit pressure sensor.

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