WO2009036827A1

WO2009036827A1 - Window de-icing system

Info

Publication number: WO2009036827A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/005590
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel Mercado Barraqueta; López MIGUEL MOTA
Original assignee: Fico Transpar, S.A.
Priority date: 2007-09-18
Filing date: 2008-07-09
Publication date: 2009-03-26

Abstract

The present invention relates to a window de-icing system (1) comprising at least one heating chamber (10, 12) with an electrically actuated heating element (40, 42) for heating up of a liquid, wherein the heating chamber (10, 12) comprises an inlet (20) for introducing of liquid into the heating chamber (10, 12) and an outlet (22) for dispensing of liquid out of the heating chamber (10, 12), a valve arrangement (30) with an inlet valve (32) for opening and closing of the inlet (20) of the heating chamber and an outlet valve (34) for opening and closing of the outlet (22) of the heating chamber (10, 12), wherein the valve arrangement (30) comprises a displaceable valve slider (35) which combines inlet valve (32) and outlet valve (34) for a combined actuation of the inlet valve (32) and the outlet valve (34).

Description

July 8, 2008 FICO TRANSPAR, S.A. Fl 10368WO HS/Awu/eβe

Window de-icing system

1. Technical field The present invention relates to a window de-icing system for de-icing of a window pane, particularly a window of a motor vehicle.

2. Prior art

At vehicles of all kinds, in the cold season, often the problem of de-icing of win- dows appears. Since the manual mechanical removal of this ice layer is cumbersome and time consuming, systems are known from the prior art which act for an automatic de-icing of windows.

So, for example the DE 100 28 362 Al shows e.g. a window de-icing system at which the windows of a motor vehicle are de-iced by means of a heated liquid. Thereby, the heated de-icing liquid is finely distributed at spray nozzles and precipitates as dispersed hot droplets onto the window to be de-iced. Due to the stored heat and the chemical composition of the de-icing liquid, the window is de- iced.

The de-icing system of the DE 100 28 362 Al comprises a pump which delivers the de-icing liquid to a heating vessel in which the de-icing liquid is heated and which provides the de-icing liquid via a valve which opens under high pressure to spray nozzles.

From the WO 98/58826, a further de-icing system is known, in which the filling of the heating vessel with de-icing liquid is controlled via pumps as well as sole- nnir) va1vp« πf rnmmnn hmp TJIP<JP vnivpς have the rHςadvantnpp that fhfiv have, a high flow resistance and have to be provided in open condition continuously with electrical current. Further, ordinary solenoid valves are comparably expensive and very error-prone if used in motor vehicles.

However, if the valves are omitted, an undesired circulation within the system occurs during heating up of the de icing liquid which on the one hand causes a high temperature loss and on the other hand significantly increases the heating time of the de-icing liquid.

It is therefore the problem of the present invention to provide a window de-icing system by which the time for heating up of the liquid is decreased, no high temperature loss occurs and an undesired circulation within the system is avoided. Further, the window de-icing system should function reliably also in motor vehicles, be cost-efficient and comprise a low flow-resistance there through.

J. Summary of the invention

The above-mentioned problems are solved by a window de-icing system comprising at least one heating chamber with an electrically actuated heating element for heating up of a liquid, wherein the heating chamber comprises an inlet for introducing of liquid into the heating chamber and an outlet for dispensing of liquid out of the heating chamber, a valve arrangement with an inlet valve for opening and closing of the inlet of the heating chamber and an outlet valve for opening and closing of the outlet of the heating chamber, wherein the valve arrangement comprises a displaceable valve slider, which combines inlet valve and outlet valve for a combined actuation of the inlet and onto the outlet valve.

The valve arrangement acts for hydraulically separating the heating chamber during heating up from the other system, such that the liquid contained therein can be heated up very quickly and without heat loss.

Further, by heating up and the hydraulic separation of the heating chamber a pressure can be generated within the heating chamber, which is particularly favor- able during spraying of the hot liquid onto the window to be de-iced. The valve arrangement is particularly preferred in that it comprises a displaceable valve slider which combines the inlet and onto the outlet valve to open and close the same by combined actuation. Therefore, the inlet and the outlet valve are simulta- neously opened or closed.

Since inlet and outlet valves comprise a displaceable valve slider, they can be actuated very easily, since usually no opposite pressure acts against the opening or closing movement of such valves. Further, large through-openings can be provided such that the flow resistance through inlet and outlet valve is minimized.

Further, by means of the valve arrangement, a plurality of single spring actuated one-way valves or valves which open if a certain pressure is reached can be replaced wherein by means of the valve arrangement, the flow-resistance can significantly be reduced.

In a first preferred embodiment the valve arrangement further comprises a piston which acts onto the valve slider for simultaneous actuating the inlet valve and the outlet valve and wherein the piston is hydraulically displaced by a liquid pressure onto the piston. Since the valve arrangement is actuated by a liquid pressure onto the piston, error-prone solenoid valves according to the prior art can be omitted which increases the reliability of the system.

Further, the valve arrangement must not be controlled separately since it is quasi automatically controlled by the liquid pressure within the system.

In a further preferred embodiment, the valve arrangement further comprises a spring, which biases the valve slider into a position in which the inlet and the outlet valve are closed, hi this rest position, the heating chamber is hydraulically separated from the remainder of the window de-icing system and thereby prevents - A -

among others a backflow of liquid into a storage container as well as an undesired circulation of the liquid.

In a further preferred embodiment, the piston is axially connected with the valve slider and/or integrally formed with the valve slider. Thereby, the valve arrangement is mechanically particularly simple constructed and thereby very error prove.

hi a further embodiment, the piston comprises a larger diameter than the valve slider. Thereby, it is secured that the piston can displace the valve slider against the force of the spring also at very low pressures, wherein, by means of the large diameter of the piston, additionally the flow resistance of the opened valve is minimized.

hi another embodiment, the valve slider is electrically displaced, preferably by means of a solenoid. By such an electrical actuation the actuation of the system can be controlled very exactly and a pressure can be applied to the window de- icing system by a pump before the valves are opened. This generates a high pressure "shot" of hot liquid.

In a further preferred embodiment the window de-icing system comprises two heating chambers which are sequentially connected after each other, wherein each comprises its own heating element, wherein the inlet is connected to the first heating chamber and the outlet is connected to the second heating chamber. Two heating chambers have the advantage that, within the heating chambers, flows are minimized and by the pressing out of the hot liquid by pumped in cold liquid only little mixing between cold and warm liquid occurs.

Preferably, the inlet is connected to the outlet of a pump of a conventional window cleaning system, and the outlet is connected to spray or nebulizing nozzles. Thereby, the de-icing system can be integrated into already existing window cleaning systems and it can thereby be retrofit. Preferably, the window de-icing system does not comprise an additional pump. For the de-icing of a window, liquid which was heated within the de-icing system, is fed from the heating chamber to the spray or nebulizing nozzles by feeding of cold liquid to the window de-icing system by means of the existing pump of the conventional window cleaning system.

hi another preferred embodiment, the window de-icing system comprises an additional pump for the de-icing process. To increase the pressure of a heated liquid, particularly at nebulizing nozzles, the window de-icing system can comprise an additional pump particularly for the de-icing process.

Preferably the window de-icing system is filled by means of the pump of the ordinary window cleaning system. Although if the window de-icing system comprises an additional pump, preferably the pump of the ordinary window cleaning system is used for feeding the cold liquid into the heating chamber.

Preferably, the window de-icing system is flown through by the liquid without heating during an usual window cleaning process, wherein the piston of the valve arrangement opens the inlet and the outlet valve. Since the window de-icing system is simply flown through during a usual window cleaning process, no valves have to be provided which have to switch between a window de-icing system and a window cleaning system. Thereby, the window de-icing system can simply be connected between the pump of the window cleaning system and the spray respec- tively nebulizing nozzles. Thereby, the assembly effort and the total effort of the system is considerably decreased and the window de-icing system can be arbitrarily positioned and must not be arranged below the storage vessel of the window cleaning system.

Further preferred embodiments result from the subclaims. 4. Short description of the drawings

In the following, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the drawings. In which shows:

Fig. 1 a three-dimensional view of a first embodiment of a window de-icing system;

Fig. 2 a sectional view through the window de-icing system according to fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 a part of the sectional view of fig. 2 with opened inlet and outlet valve;

Fig. 4 a side view of a further embodiment of a window de-icing system according to the invention;

Fig. 5 a top view onto the window de-icing system according to fig. 4;

Fig. 6 a three-dimensional detailed view of the valve arrangement of the window- de-icing system of fig. 4 in closed condition;

Fig. 7 a three-dimensional detailed view of the valve arrangement of fig. 4 in opened condition; and

Fig. 8 a schematic view of the connection of a window de-icing system within the vehicle.

5. Description of preferred embodiments

In the following, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the figures.

Fig. 1 shows a window de-icing system 1 comprising a main body 14. two heating chambers 10, 12 and a valve arrangement 30. The heating chambers 10, 12 com- prise an inlet 20 for introducing of liquid and an outlet 22 for dispensing of liquid. The inlet 20 and the outlet 22 are commonly opened and closed by the valve arrangement 30. The main body 14 is preferably integrally provided and comprises also the heating chambers 10, 12. From below, the window de-icing system is closed by a lid 15. The upper part of the window de-icing system 1 can also be closed by a lid (not shown).

Fig. 2 shows a sectional view through the window de-icing system 1 of fig. 1. The valve arrangement 30 comprises a valve slider 35 which is horizontally displace- able within a cylindrical housing 31 and which is biased to the left by a spring 37. The valve slider 35 forms the inlet valve 32 for the inlet 20 and the outlet valve 34 for the outlet 22. Inlet and outlet valve are sealed with respect to the housing 31 by means of two circumferential seal rings 39, respectively. The seal rings 39 of the inlet 32 and outlet valve 34 are arranged in such a way that in the rest position shown in fig. 2 the inlet 20 as well as also the outlet 22 are closed and also the heating chambers 10, 12 are tightly closed. In this condition the valve arrangement 30 prevents an entry of liquid into the heating chambers 10, 12, a dispensing of liquid out of the heating chambers 10, 12 and a circulation of liquid through the heating chambers 10, 12. Additionally, likewise the backflow of liquid from the tube lines 106 of the spray or nebulizing nozzles 107, which are connected to the outlet 22, is prevented. Additional one-way valves therefore must not be provided.

The window de-icing system 1 comprises two heating chambers, namely a first heating chamber 10 and a second heating chamber 12. They are connected with each other by an opening at their lower ends, such that a liquid exchange between both heating chambers 10, 12 is possible. Each heating chamber 10, 12 is provided with its own heating element 40, 42, which is provided with electrical current if necessary via connections 44, 46. The provision of two heating chambers 10, 12 has the advantage that, during the de-icing process, a mixing of cold and hot liquids within the second heating chamber 12 is excluded and a mixing within the first heating chamber 10 is minimized. As shown in fig. 2, the valve arrangement 30 is additionally provided with a piston 36, which is formed by the left end of the valve slider 35. If liquid is pumped into the inlet 20, the pressure of the introduced liquid acts onto the piston 36 and presses the valve slider 35 against the force of the spring 37, in fig. 2 to the right. This condition is shown in fig. 3.

Since the piston 36, inlet 32 and outlet valve 34 comprise of the valve slider 35, and are axially connected thereby, respectively are formed integrally, the inlet valve 32 is synchronously opened or closed with the outlet valve 34. The valves 32, 34 are respectively opened if liquid is pumped into the inlet 20 and thereby, the piston 36 displaces the valve slider 35 to the right. Thereby, the path from inlet 20 via the inlet opening 11 into the heating chamber 10 and from the heating chamber 12 via the outlet opening 13 to the outlet 22 is free and the liquid can flow into and out of the heating chambers 10, 12 as shown by arrows 21 and 23.

In an alternative embodiment the valve arrangement 30 comprises an electric motor or a solenoid (not shown) instead of the piston 36 for displacing the valve slider 35. In this case inlet valve 32 and outlet valve 34 are commonly actuated electrically instead of hydraulically.

The valve arrangement 30 is mounted by inserting the valve slider 35 into the housing 31. Then, the spring is introduced into the housing 31 and the housing is closed by means of a lid 38, such that the spring urges valve slider 35 in fig. 2 and fig. 3 to the left.

The figures 4 - 7 show a second embodiment of a window de-icing system 1. The window de-icing system 1 in this embodiment only comprises one heating chamber 10. The window de-icing system 1 of the second embodiment further com- priseς an own numn 50. which is connected by an opening with the heating chamber 10. The pump 50 acts for pumping hot liquid to the outlet during the de-icing process and thereby to the spray respectively nebulizing nozzles 107 of the window de-icing system 1, cf. fig. 8.

In this embodiment, the valve arrangement 30 is vertically arranged. The outlet valve 32 is connected with the heating chamber 10 via an inlet line 24. The heating chamber 10 is connected via a connection line 26 with the outlet valve 34. As shown in figs. 6 and 7, the valve arrangement 30 comprises a piston 36, which has a larger diameter than the valve slider 35 and thereby also a larger diameter than the inlet valve 32 and the outlet valve 34. In fig. 6, the position of the valve slider arrangement 30 is shown in rest position, i.e. if no pressure is supplied to inlet 20.

If liquid from a storage vessel 104 is pumped to the inlet 20 by means of a pump 102 of the existing window cleaning system 100, for cleaning of the window or for filling of the window de-icing system 1, as it is shown in fig. 8, the piston 36 is pressed against spring 37 downwards and inlet valve 32 and outlet valve 34 open. The liquid which flows into the inlet 20 reaches the heating chambers 10 and 12 via the inlet line 24 as shown in fig. 3 and 7 by arrows 21 and 23. From there it flows with our without heating via the connection line 26 to the opened outlet valve 34. Then, it flows either via an outlet line 27 and a T-connection 28 to the outlet 22 of the window de-icing system 1 (fig. 7) or directly to the outlet 22 (fig. 3). During an ordinary window cleaning process, the liquid is simply pumped through the window de-icing system 1 without a heating of the liquid.

hi contrary thereto, a de-icing process is done as follows: Initially, the window de- icing system 1 is filled by pumping liquid to the inlet 20 by means of the existing pump 102 of the window cleaning system 100. The pressure of the liquid displaces piston 36 and thereby opens the inlet valve 32 and the outlet valve 34 as shown in fig. 3 and 7. The liquid then flows from the inlet valve 32 via the inlet line 24 into the heating chamber 10, 12. After the complete filling of the heating chambers 10. 17. with limiid. the numn 102 of the window cleanine svstem 100 is stopped, wherein the inlet and the outlet valve 32, 34 are closed. Within the heat- ing chambers 10, 12, the liquid is heated up to a temperature of 60 - 90°C by means of the electrical heating elements 40, 42.

The liquid which is heated by the window de-icing system can be plain water or a water-alcohol mixture to avoid freezing of the liquid and to improve cleaning and de-icing. Commercially available window cleaning liquids may also be used as liquid to de-ice or de-frost the window.

After the desired temperature is reached in the embodiment of figs. 1 - 3, the ex- temal pump 102 of the existing window cleaning system 100 is actuated. Thereby, cold liquid is pumped to the inlet 22 and the valves 32, 34 of the valve arrangement 30 are hydraulically opened by the piston 36. Thereby, the hot liquid is dispensed under a high pressure from the outlet 22 and reaches the spray or nebulizing nozzles 107 via lines 106 where it is sprayed respectively nebulized. The cold liquid, which flows into the heating chambers 10, 12 thereby presses the hot liquid to the spray or nebulizing nozzles 107, without the window de-icing system 1 needing an own pump.

At the embodiment of figs. 4 - 7, the internal pump 50 is actuated which pumps the hot liquid from the heating chamber 10 via the T-connection 28 to the outlet 22. From the outlet 22, the hot liquid reaches the spray respectively nebulizing nozzles 107 via a line 106 where it is sprayed respectively nebulized.

As shown in fig. 8, the window de-icing system 1 can be integrated into an ordi- nary window cleaning system 100 and thereby the vehicle can be retrofitted or fitted with a window de-icing system 1. To this end, the window de-icing system

1 is switched between the pump 102 of the window cleaning system 100 and line

106. As described above, the liquid from the storage vessel 104 of the window cleaning system 100 is pumped through the window de-icing system 1 to the spray or nebulizing nozzles 107 for an ordinary cleaning process. Thereby, the pump 50 of the window de-icing system 1 must not be actuated. By flowing through of the liquid the piston 36 of the valve arrangement 30 opens inlet 32 and outlet valve 34.

During a de-icing process, the pump 102 of the window cleaning system 100 acts for filling the heating chambers 10, 12 and if no internal pump 50 is provided, it acts also for supplying the hot liquid to the spray or nebulizing nozzles 107.

Most of the components of the window de-icing system 1 preferably comprise of plastic material. An exception are the seals as seal rings 39, which is made of a rubber like material and spring 37 which comprises of steel.

List of reference signs

1 window de-icing system

10 first heating chamber

11 inlet opening

12 second heating chamber

13 outlet opening

14 main body

15 lower lid

20 inlet

21 arrow; flow through inlet valve

22 outlet

23 arrow; flow through outlet valve

24 inlet line

26 connection line

27 outlet line

28 T-connection

30 valve arrangement

31 housing

32 inlet valve

34 outlet valve valve slider piston spring lid seal rings , 42 heating elements , 46 electrical connectors internal pump 0 window cleaning system2 external pump 4 storage vessel 6 line system 7 spray or nebulizing nozzles

Claims

1. Window de-icing system (1 ) comprising:

a. at least one heating chamber (10, 12) with an electrically powered heating element (40, 42) for heating of a liquid, wherein the heating chamber (10, 12) comprises an inlet (20) for introducing of liquid into the heating chamber (10, 12) and an outlet (22) for dispensing of liquid from the heating chamber (10, 12);

b. a valve arrangement (30) with an inlet valve (32) for opening and closing of the inlet (20) of the heating chamber (10, 12) and an outlet valve (34) for opening and closing of the outlet (22) of the heating chamber (10, 12);

c. wherein the valve arrangement (30) comprises a displaceable valve slider (35), which combines inlet valve (32) and outlet valve (34) for a combined actuation of the inlet valve (32) and the outlet valve (34).

2. Window de-icing system according to claim 1, wherein the valve arrangement (30) further comprises a piston (36) which acts onto the valve slider (35) for simultaneous actuating the inlet valve (32) and the outlet valve (34) and wherein the piston (36) is hydraulically displaced by a liq- uid pressure onto the piston (36).

3. Window de-icing system according to one of the claims 1 or 2, wherein the valve arrangement (30) further comprises a spring (37) which biases the valve slider (35) into a position in which the inlet valve (32) and the outlet valve (34) are closed.

4. Window de-icing system according to one of the claims 2 or 3, wherein the piston (36) is axially connected with the valve slider (35) and/or is integrally formed with the valve slider (35).

5. Window de-icing system according to one of the previous claims, wherein the piston (36) comprises a larger diameter than the valve slider (35).

6. Window de-icing system according to claim 1, wherein the valve slider (35) is electrically displaced, preferably by means of a solenoid.

7. Window de-icing system according to one of the previous claims, comprising two heating chambers (10, 12) which are connected sequentially one after the other, which comprise an own heating element (40, 42) respectively, wherein the inlet (20) is connected to the first heating chamber (10), and wherein the outlet (22) is connected to the second heating chamber (12).

8. Window de-icing system according to one of the previous claims, wherein the inlet (22) is connected to the outlet of a pump (102) of an ordinary window cleaning system (100) and wherein the outlet (22) is connected to spray or nebulizing nozzles (107).

9. Window de-icing system according to claim 8, wherein the window de- icing system (1) does not comprise an additional pump.

10. Window de-icing system according to claim 8, wherein the window de- icing system (1) comprises an additional pump (50) for the de-icing process.

11. Window de-icing system according to one of the claims 7 - 10, wherein the window de-icing system (1) is filled by the pump (102) of the ordinary window cleaning system (100).

12. Window de-icing system according to one of the claims 7 - 11, wherein the window de-icing system (1) is flown through by the liquid without heating up during an ordinary window cleaning process, wherein the piston (36) of the valve arrangement (30) opens the inlet valve (32) and the outlet valve (34).