ELECTRICALLY HEATING WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID SYSTEM

摘要

An electrically powered windshield wiper fluid heater having a housing with an inlet and an outlet. A piston is movably mounted in the housing between a retracted and an extended position and the piston forms a thin annular passageway between the housing and the piston. During fluid flow from the inlet, through the annular chamber and to the outlet, the differential pressure moves the piston to its extended position thus closing a switch which powers a heating element disposed around the housing.

主权项

1. A heater for windshield washer fluid comprising:
an elongated housing having an interior chamber, a fluid inlet open to one end of said housing and a fluid outlet open to a second end of said housing, a piston positioned in said chamber and movable between said ends of said housing between a retracted position in which one end of said piston is closely adjacent said fluid inlet and an extended position in which said one end of said piston is spaced from said fluid inlet, said piston forming an annular chamber between piston and said housing which fluidly connects said fluid inlet to said fluid outlet, an electrical heating element disposed around a portion of said housing, an electrical switch mounted to said housing at said second end of said housing and electrically connected to said heating element, a switch actuator mounted to said second and of said piston which actuates said switch when said piston is in said extended position.