Resistance heated cowl tray and hvac intake

Abstract

A vehicle having an occupant cabin, a cowl, and a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system is provided with a cowl tray and adjoining HVAC intake. The cowl tray, HVAC intake, or both are constructed from a resistively conductive polymeric material, a polymeric material having embedded resistively conductive fibers, or a polymeric material having embedded resistively conductive wires, and are capable of generating heat upon the application of an electric current. Alternately, inserts constructed of such materials are attached to the cowl tray, HVAC intake, or both. The ability of the cowl tray and HVAC intake to generate heat is useful in preventing the accumulation of snow and ice.

1 . A vehicle for operation on the ground, said vehicle having an electrical system, said vehicle further having an occupant cabin, said occupant cabin being provided with a cowl and a windshield, said windshield having a base proximate to said cowl, comprising:
 a cowl tray, said cowl tray being capable of generating heat in response to the application of an electric current thereto, said cowl tray being attached to said cowl proximate to said base of said windshield; and   at least one electrical lead connecting said cowl tray to said electrical system.   
   
   
       2 . The vehicle for operation on the ground of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said cowl tray is constructed of a resistively conductive polymeric material.   
   
   
       3 . The vehicle for operation on the ground of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said cowl tray is constructed of a polymeric material having embedded resistively conductive fibers.   
   
   
       4 . The vehicle for operation on the ground of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said cowl tray is constructed of a polymeric material having embedded resistively conductive wires.   
   
   
       5 . The vehicle for operation on the ground of  claim 1 , wherein:
 application of said electric current is controlled by at least one sensor.   
   
   
       6 . A vehicle for operation on the ground, said vehicle having an electrical system, said vehicle further having an occupant cabin, said occupant cabin being provided with a cowl and a windshield, said windshield having a base proximate to said cowl, comprising:
 a cowl tray, said cowl tray being attached to said cowl proximate to said base of said windshield;   at least one insert attached to said cowl tray, said at least one insert being capable of generating heat in response to the application of an electric current thereto; and   at least one electrical lead connecting said at least one insert to said electrical system.   
   
   
       7 . The vehicle for operation on the ground of  claim 6 , wherein:
 said at least one insert is constructed of a resistively conductive polymeric material.   
   
   
       8 . The vehicle for operation on the ground of  claim 6 , wherein:
 said at least one insert is constructed of a polymeric material having embedded resistively conductive fibers.   
   
   
       9 . The vehicle for operation on the ground of  claim 6  wherein:
 said at least one insert is constructed of a polymeric material having embedded resistively conductive wires.   
   
   
       10 . The vehicle for operation on the ground of  claim 6 , wherein:
 application of said electric current is controlled by at least one sensor.   
   
   
       11 . A vehicle for operation on the ground, said vehicle having an electrical system, said vehicle further having an occupant cabin, said occupant cabin being provided with a cowl and a windshield, said windshield having a base proximate to said cowl, said occupant cabin being provided with a cowl tray attached to said cowl proximate to said base of said windshield, said occupant cabin being further provided with an HVAC system, comprising:
 an air intake connected to said HVAC system, said air intake adjoining said cowl tray, said air intake being capable of generating heat in response to the application of an electric current thereto; and   at least one electrical lead connecting said air intake to said electrical system.   
   
   
       12 . The vehicle for operation on the ground of  claim 11 , wherein:
 said air intake is further provided with an air intake screen, said air intake screen being capable of generating heat in response to the application of an electric current thereto.   
   
   
       13 . The vehicle for operation on the ground of  claim 11 , wherein:
 said air intake is constructed of a resistively conductive polymeric material.   
   
   
       14 . The vehicle for operation on the ground of  claim 11 , wherein:
 said air intake is constructed of a polymeric material having embedded resistively conductive fibers.   
   
   
       15 . The vehicle for operation on the ground of  claim 11 , wherein:
 said air intake is constructed of a polymeric material having embedded resistively conductive wires.   
   
   
       16 . The vehicle for operation on the ground of  claim 11 , wherein:
 application of said electric current is controlled by at least one sensor.   
   
   
       17 . A vehicle for operation on the ground, said vehicle having an electrical system, said vehicle further having an occupant cabin, said occupant cabin being provided with a cowl and a windshield, said windshield having a base proximate to said cowl, said occupant cabin being provided with a cowl tray attached to said cowl proximate to said base of said windshield, said occupant cabin being further provided with an HVAC system, comprising:
 an air intake connected to said HVAC system, said air intake adjoining said cowl tray;   at least one insert attached to said air intake, said at least one insert being capable of generating heat in response to the application of an electric current thereto; and   at least one electrical lead connecting said at least one insert to said electrical system.   
   
   
       18 . The vehicle for operation on the ground of  claim 17 , wherein:
 said at least one insert is constructed of a resistively conductive polymeric material.   
   
   
       19 . The vehicle for operation on the ground of  claim 17 , wherein:
 said at least one insert is constructed of a polymeric material having embedded resistively conductive fibers.   
   
   
       20 . The vehicle for operation on the ground of  claim 17 , wherein:
 said at least one insert is constructed of a polymeric material having embedded resistively conductive wires.   
   
   
       21 . The vehicle for operation on the ground of  claim 17 , wherein:
 application of said electric current is controlled by at least one sensor.