Vehicle traction deicing system

The vehicle traction deicing system comprises a reservoir, a pump, a heater, a plurality of valves, a plurality of nozzles, and an operator interface. The reservoir holds a supply of deicing fluid which the pump moves through the heater, valves, and nozzles. The nozzles are placed in front of and behind each wheel of a vehicle and pointed at the windshield. The valves control the flow of deicing fluid to the various nozzles. The heater heats the deicing fluid prior to dispersal by the nozzles. The operator interface provides a set of controls that allow the vehicle traction deicing system to be turned on and off and to dispense the heated deicing fluid at wheels and at the windshield.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

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REFERENCE TO APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of transportation, more specifically, a vehicle traction deicing system.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The vehicle traction deicing system comprises a reservoir, a pump, a heater, a plurality of valves, a plurality of nozzles, and an operator interface. The reservoir holds a supply of deicing fluid, which the pump moves through the heater, valves, and nozzles. The nozzles are placed in front of and behind each wheel of a vehicle and pointed at the windshield. The valves control the flow of deicing fluid to the various nozzles. The heater heats the deicing fluid prior to dispersal by the nozzles. The operator interface provides a set of controls that allow the vehicle traction deicing system to be turned on and off and to dispense the heated deicing fluid at wheels and at the windshield.

An object of the invention is to dispense deicing fluid at the wheels and windshield of a vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to heat the deicing fluid prior to dispensing.

A further object of the invention is to dispense the heated deicing fluid in front of and behind each wheel.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an operator interface that allows control of wheel deicing and windshield deicing separately.

It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the vehicle traction deicing system. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

The vehicle traction deicing system100(hereinafter invention) comprises a reservoir200, a pump230, a heater240, a plurality of valves, a plurality of wheel nozzles, at least one windshield nozzle460, and an operator interface250. The invention100applies heated deicing fluid945to the plurality of wheels and/or the windshield928of a vehicle900.

The reservoir200may be a holding tank for deicing fluid940. The reservoir200may couple to the pump230via one of a plurality of distribution lines210. The reservoir200may be accessible for refilling through a reservoir cap (not illustrated in the figures). As a non-limiting example, the reservoir cap may be exposed in a trunk of the vehicle900.

The pump230may be a device that moves the deicing fluid940from a pump inlet to a pump outlet when the pump230is energized by an electrical potential applied to the pump230. The pump inlet may be coupled to the reservoir200. The pump outlet may be coupled to a main valve340via one of the plurality of distribution lines210.

The main valve340may block the flow of the deicing fluid940unless energized by an electrical potential applied to the main valve340. A main valve inlet may be coupled to the pump outlet via one of the plurality of distribution lines210. A main valve outlet may be coupled to the heater240.

The heater240may be a device that increases the temperature of the deicing fluid940as the deicing fluid940flows through the heater240. The deicing fluid940may enter the heater240at a heater inlet and the heated deicing fluid945may exit from the heater240via a heater outlet. The source of the heat may be a fluid connection (not illustrated in the figures) to a vehicle radiator cooling system (not illustrated in the figures) or a heating element (not illustrated in the figures) located within the heater240that is by an electrical potential applied to the heater240. The heater240may comprise a heater regulator (not illustrated in the figures). The heater regulator may prevent the temperature of the heated deicing fluid945from going above a preset temperature limit by removing the electrical potential from the heating element or rerouting the fluid connection when the heated deicing fluid945is at or above the preset temperature limit.

The heater outlet couples to the plurality of distribution lines210which carry the heated deicing fluid945to a left front wheel valve350, a right front wheel valve355, a left rear wheel valve360, and a right rear wheel valve365.

The heated deicing fluid945also flows to a windshield valve (not illustrated in the figures), either via one of the plurality of distribution lines210or by direct coupling when the heater240comprises the windshield valve.

The plurality of valves comprises the left front wheel valve350, the right front wheel valve355, the left rear wheel valve360, the right rear wheel valve365, and the windshield valve. The left front wheel valve350may block the flow of the heated deicing fluid945unless energized by an electrical potential applied to the left front wheel valve350. A left front wheel valve inlet may be coupled to the heater outlet via the plurality of distribution lines210. A left front wheel valve outlet may be coupled to a first wheel nozzle410and a second wheel nozzle415via the plurality of distribution lines210.

The right front wheel valve355may block the flow of the heated deicing fluid945unless energized by an electrical potential applied to the right front wheel valve355. A right front wheel valve inlet may be coupled to the heater outlet via the plurality of distribution lines210. A right front wheel valve outlet may be coupled to a third wheel nozzle420and a fourth wheel nozzle425via the plurality of distribution lines210.

The left rear wheel valve360may block the flow of the heated deicing fluid945unless energized by an electrical potential applied to the left rear wheel valve360. A left rear wheel valve inlet may be coupled to the heater outlet via the plurality of distribution lines210. A left rear wheel valve outlet may be coupled to a fifth wheel nozzle430and a sixth wheel nozzle435via the plurality of distribution lines210.

The right rear wheel valve365may block the flow of the heated deicing fluid945unless energized by an electrical potential applied to the right rear wheel valve365. A right rear wheel valve inlet may be coupled to the heater outlet via the plurality of distribution lines210. A right rear wheel valve outlet may be coupled to a seventh wheel nozzle440and an eighth wheel nozzle445via the plurality of distribution lines210.

The windshield valve may block the flow of the heated deicing fluid945unless energized by an electrical potential applied to the windshield valve. A windshield valve inlet may be coupled to the heater outlet via the plurality of distribution lines210. A windshield valve outlet may be coupled to the at least one windshield nozzle460via the plurality of distribution lines210.

The plurality of wheel nozzles comprises the first wheel nozzle410, the second wheel nozzle415, the third wheel nozzle420, the fourth wheel nozzle425, the fifth wheel nozzle430, the sixth wheel nozzle435, the seventh wheel nozzle440, and the eighth wheel nozzle445. The plurality of wheel nozzles disperse the heated deicing fluid945onto the plurality of wheels and onto the ground at the plurality of wheels.

The first wheel nozzle410may be coupled to the vehicle900in front of a left front wheel920. The second wheel nozzle415may be coupled to the vehicle900behind the left front wheel920. When the heated deicing fluid945is pumped to the first wheel nozzle410and the second wheel nozzle415, the first wheel nozzle410and the second wheel nozzle415may disperse the heated deicing fluid945onto the left front wheel920and onto the ground in front of and behind the left front wheel920.

The third wheel nozzle420may be coupled to the vehicle900in front of a right front wheel922. The fourth wheel nozzle425may be coupled to the vehicle900behind the right front wheel922. When the heated deicing fluid945is pumped to the third wheel nozzle420and the fourth wheel nozzle425, the third wheel nozzle420and the fourth wheel nozzle425may disperse the heated deicing fluid945onto the right front wheel922and onto the ground in front of and behind the right front wheel922.

The fifth wheel nozzle430may be coupled to the vehicle900in front of a left rear wheel924. The sixth wheel nozzle435may be coupled to the vehicle900behind the left rear wheel924. When the heated deicing fluid945is pumped to the fifth wheel nozzle430and the sixth wheel nozzle435, the fifth wheel nozzle430and the sixth wheel nozzle435may disperse the heated deicing fluid945onto the left rear wheel924and onto the ground in front of and behind the left rear wheel924.

The seventh wheel nozzle440may be coupled to the vehicle900in front of a right rear wheel926. The eighth wheel nozzle445may be coupled to the vehicle900behind the right rear wheel926. When the heated deicing fluid945is pumped to the seventh wheel nozzle440and the eighth wheel nozzle445, the seventh wheel nozzle440and the eighth wheel nozzle445may disperse the heated deicing fluid945onto the right rear wheel926and onto the ground in front of and behind the right rear wheel926.

An individual nozzle475selected from the plurality of wheel nozzles may comprise a plurality of nozzle apertures470. The heated deicing fluid945may be pumped into the individual nozzle475via the plurality of distribution lines210and may spray out of the plurality of nozzle apertures470. The diameter of the plurality of nozzle apertures470may determine the distance from the individual nozzle475that the heated deicing fluid945is sprayed. The plurality of nozzle apertures470on the individual nozzle475may comprise multiple diameters.

The at least one windshield nozzle460may be one or more nozzles mounted in front of the windshield928and oriented to disperse the heated deicing fluid945onto the windshield928when the heated deicing fluid945is pumped to the at least one windshield nozzle460by the pump230.

The operator interface250may control the operation of the invention100. The operator interface250may be located inside of a passenger compartment so that the operator interface250is accessible by a driver (not illustrated in the figures). The operator interface250may be electrically coupled to a vehicle electrical system (not illustrated in the figures), the pump230, the heater240, the main valve340, the left front wheel valve350, the left rear wheel valve360, the left rear wheel valve360, the right rear wheel valve365, and the windshield valve via a plurality of wires215. Note that not all of the plurality of wires215are shown in the figures. The operator interface250may be powered by the connection to the vehicle electrical system.

The operator interface250may comprise a power control260, a wheel valve control265, and a windshield valve control270. The operator interface250may comprise a control circuit (not illustrated in the figures) to sense the power control260, the wheel valve control265, and the windshield valve control270and to energize the heater240, the pump230, and the plurality of valves.

Activation of the power control260may turn the invention100on. Specifically, activation of the power control260may energize the pump230and the main valve340to force the deicing fluid940into the heater240. Activation of the power control260may also energize the heater240. Activation of the power control260may also place the control circuit located within the operator interface250into a state where the control circuit will recognize and respond to activation of the wheel valve control265and the windshield valve control270. Activation of the power control260when the invention100is already on may turn the invention100off by de-energizing the heater240, the pump230, and the plurality of valves, and by causing the control circuit to ignore the wheel valve control265and the windshield valve control270.

Activation of the wheel valve control265while the invention100is on may cause the control circuit to energize the left front wheel valve350, the right front wheel valve355, the left rear wheel valve360, and the right rear wheel valve365for the duration of the wheel valve control265activation. This may allow the heated deicing fluid945to be dispersed at the left front wheel920, the right front wheel922, the left rear wheel924, and the right rear wheel926.

Activation of the windshield valve control270while the invention100is on may cause the control circuit to energize the windshield valve for the duration of the windshield valve control270activation. This may allow the heated deicing fluid to be dispersed at the windshield928.

The operator interface250may be housed inside of an operator interface housing255. In some embodiments, the operator interface250may be housed within the dashboard or center console of the vehicle900.

As used in this disclosure, an “aperture” is an opening in a surface. Aperture may be synonymous with hole, slit, crack, gap, slot, or opening.

As used herein, the words “control” or “controls” are intended to include any device which can cause the completion or interruption of an electrical circuit; non-limiting examples of controls include toggle switches, rocker switches, push button switches, rotary switches, electromechanical relays, solid state relays, touch sensitive interfaces and combinations thereof whether they are normally open, normally closed, momentary contact, latching contact, single pole, multi-pole, single throw, or multi-throw.

As used herein, the words “couple”, “couples”, “coupled” or “coupling”, refer to connecting, either directly or indirectly, and does not necessarily imply a mechanical connection.

As used in this disclosure, a “diameter” of an object is a straight line segment that passes through the center (or center axis) of an object. The line segment of the diameter is terminated at the perimeter or boundary of the object through which the line segment of the diameter runs.

As used herein, “energize” refers to the application of an electrical potential to a system or subsystem.

As used herein, “front” indicates the side of an object that is closest to a forward direction of travel under normal use of the object or the side or part of an object that normally presents itself to view or that is normally used first. “Rear” or “back’ refers to the side that is opposite the front.

As used in this disclosure, a “housing” is a rigid casing that encloses and protects one or more devices.

As used in this disclosure, a “pump” is a mechanical device that uses suction or pressure to raise or move fluids, compress fluids, or force a fluid into an inflatable object.

As used in this disclosure, a “reservoir” refers to a container or containment system that is configured to store a liquid.

As used in this disclosure, a “spray” is a plurality of liquid drops projected from a nozzle.

As used in this disclosure, a “valve” is a device that is used to control the flow of a fluid (gas or liquid) through a pipe or to control the flow of a fluid into and out of a container.

As used in this disclosure, a “vehicle” is a device that is used for transporting passengers, goods, or equipment.

As used in this disclosure, a “windshield” refers to the front window of a vehicle that is intended to shield the occupants of the vehicle from the wind generated by the normal forward motion of the vehicle.

Throughout this document references to “wire”, “wires”, “wired”, or “wiring” may describe and/or show a single conductor when, in fact, two conductors may be required to power or control a subsystem; a convention used herein is to not show the common return conductor to which all electrical subsystems are connected—this common return conductor is a continuous electrical path and does not pass through any type of switch or other electrical component other than the possibility of passing through one or more connectors.