# US 11,305,737 B2 · Cleaning device intended to spray at least one fluid towards a surface to be cleaned of a motor vehicle, such as an optical surface of a sensor of an optical detection system

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- Number: US 11,305,737 B2
- Document ID: US11305737B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/336,713
- Filed: 2017-07-18
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-28
- Assignees: Valeo Systèmes d'Essuyage
- Applicants: Valeo Systèmes d'Essuyage
- Inventors: Maxime Baudouin; Giuseppe Grasso; Grégory Kolanowski; Thibaud Passerieux; Philippe Picot; Jordan Vieille
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305737B2

## CPC

- B60S 1/52: Arrangement of nozzles; {Liquid spreading means}(nozzles per se B05B)
- B60S 1/56: specially adapted for cleaning other parts or devices than front windows or windscreens {(rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior including cleaning devices B60R1/0602)}
- B05B 15/65: Mounting arrangements for fluid connection of the spraying apparatus or its outlets to flow conduits
- B08B 3/02: Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays
- G02B 27/0006: {with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation (G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B)}
- B60S: SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)
- B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

A cleaning device (100), intended to spray at least one fluid towards a surface to be cleaned of a motor vehicle, such as an optical surface of a sensor of an optical detection system, said cleaning device comprising at least one conveying body (1) and a delivery ramp (2) for delivering one or more cleaning and/or drying fluids, and attachment means (101) for attaching a connecting portion (20) of the delivery ramp (2) to an end of the conveying body (1). The attachment means (101) comprise an elastic interlocking assembly (102) and a foolproofing assembly (103) formed respectively by elements carried by the conveying body (1) and complementary elements.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A cleaning device to spray at least one fluid toward a surface to be cleaned of a motor vehicle comprising an optical surface of a sensor of an optical detection system, said cleaning device comprising:
at least one conveying body and a delivery manifold for one or more cleaning and/or drying fluids; and
means for attaching a coupling portion of the delivery manifold to an end of the conveying body,
wherein the attachment means comprise an elastic interlocking assembly and a foolproofing assembly formed respectively by elements borne by the conveying body and complementary elements borne by the delivery manifold,
wherein the elastic interlocking assembly and the foolproofing assembly are complementary assemblies jointly coupling the delivery manifold and the conveying body,
wherein the elements forming the elastic interlocking assembly comprise at least a first snug and a second snug arranged on the conveying body and a first window and a second window arranged in the coupling portion of the delivery manifold, these elements being configured so that the first snug cooperates specifically with the first window and the second snug cooperates specifically with the second window, and
wherein the elements forming the elastic interlocking assembly are configured in pairs to also perform a foolproofing function of the foolproofing assembly.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first snug and the second snug are offset relative to one another in a direction of longitudinal extension of the conveying body.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first snug and the second snug each have, oriented toward the downstream end of the conveying body, an inclined plane.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, in which the conveying body comprises a piston, the first snug and the second snug are arranged on the piston.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foolproofing assembly comprises at least one positioning finger arranged on the conveying body.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The cleaning device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the positioning finger is configured to be placed, when the delivery manifold is assembled with the conveying body in abutment at the bottom of a notch arranged in the coupling portion of the delivery manifold.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The cleaning device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the positioning finger is longitudinally substantially aligned with one of the first or second snugs.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The cleaning device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the foolproofing assembly comprises two positioning fingers which have dimensions, and/or forms, and/or a longitudinal arrangement along the conveying body that are different from one positioning finger to the other.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, in which the delivery manifold comprises at least one dispensing channel pierced by a set of orifices for dispensing one or more cleaning and/or drying fluids, wherein the dispensing channel extends transversely on either side of the coupling portion of the delivery manifold by which the latter is attached to the conveying body.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the delivery manifold is produced as a first part and a second part that are welded to one another, each part having, symmetrically, elements of the elastic interlocking assembly and elements of the foolproofing assembly.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A detection system for a motor vehicle, comprising:
at least one detector accommodated in a reception housing; and
at least one device as claimed in claim 1 for the cleaning of an optical surface of said detector.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A motor vehicle equipped with a detection system as claimed in claim 11.

### Claim 13

A cleaning device to spray at least one fluid toward a surface to be cleaned of a motor vehicle comprising an optical surface of a sensor of an optical detection system, said cleaning device comprising:
at least one conveying body and a delivery manifold for one or more cleaning and/or drying fluids; and
means for attaching a coupling portion of the delivery manifold to an end of the conveying body,
wherein the attachment means comprise an elastic interlocking assembly and a foolproofing assembly formed respectively by elements borne by the conveying body and complementary elements borne by the delivery manifold,
wherein the elastic interlocking assembly and the foolproofing assembly are complementary assemblies jointly coupling the delivery manifold and the conveying body,
wherein the foolproofing assembly comprises at least one positioning finger arranged on the conveying body, and
wherein the positioning finger extends in the vicinity of the downstream longitudinal end of the conveying body.
