US Patent 10384653 Vehicle windshield cleaning system

Apparatus for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface includes an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid, a housing bounding a reservoir in fluid communication with the inlet port, and an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing an amount of heated fluid. A heater element heats fluid that passes from the inlet port to the outlet port through the reservoir. A heat exchanger in thermal contact with the heater element for conveying heat to the fluid within the reservoir has a strut that divides fluid entering the housing through the inlet port into two flow paths and elongated fins that extend outwardly from the strut at transverse angles that bound fluid flow channels for fluid moving through the reservoir. A control circuit energizes the heater element with a voltage to heat the heating element and the fluid passing from the inlet port to the outlet port through the reservoir.