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US 12,202,446 B2Granted
Flow control valve and system for cleaning a vehicle surface
AssigneeA. Raymond Et Cie
InventorsUrs Grether, Julien Friedl, Stéphane Baron, Larry M. Rachow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure provides a flow control valve for controlling the flow of a cleaning media, such as controlling the flow of cleaning media to a nozzle positioned to distribute the cleaning media to a vehicle surface. The nozzle is integrated with the flow control valve. Vehicles and systems incorporating a flow control valve are also provided.
Claims14
An assembly for cleaning a vehicle surface comprising:
- a nozzle comprising a proximal inlet end and a distal outlet end, at least one cleaning fluid outlet at the distal outlet end, and a peripheral wall elongated along a longitudinal assembly axis;
- an electronic valve controlling a flow of a cleaning media to the nozzle, the electronic valve comprising:
- a valve body,
- a valve inlet configured for fluid communication with a source of pressurized cleaning media, the valve inlet projecting radially from a side wall of the valve body relative to the longitudinal assembly axis;
- a valve outlet comprising a hollow tip projecting longitudinally from an end of the valve body along the longitudinal assembly axis, the hollow tip comprising at least one orifice;
- a fluid passage formed in the valve body and providing a pathway between the valve inlet and the valve outlet;
- a valve seat surrounding an opening in the fluid passage between the valve inlet and the valve outlet;
- an actuator comprising a plunger having a sealing pin;
- and
- a flexible diaphragm moveable into engagement with the valve seat to close the electronic valve and out of engagement with the valve seat to open the electronic valve;
- a power connector connectable to an external current supply;
- an elastomeric sealing element;
- and
- a bypass connector defining at least a portion of a bypass passage that conducts cleaning media around the flexible diaphragm, the bypass passage branching off from the fluid passage between the valve inlet and the valve outlet;
- wherein the proximal inlet end of the nozzle is directly connected to the valve outlet of the electronic valve and the hollow tip projects through the proximal inlet end of the nozzle;
- wherein the elastomeric sealing element is at an interface between the nozzle and the electronic valve to prevent leakage of cleaning media at the interface and is supported on the hollow tip;
- and
- wherein the bypass connector is disposed between the nozzle and the actuator, and the bypass connector extends radially from the valve body in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal assembly axis and orthogonal to the elongated peripheral wall of the nozzle.
15 more elements
An assembly for cleaning a vehicle surface comprising:
- a nozzle comprising a proximal inlet end and a distal outlet end, at least one cleaning fluid outlet at the distal end, and a peripheral wall elongated along a longitudinal assembly axis;
- an electronic valve controlling a flow of a cleaning media to the nozzle, the electronic valve comprising:
- a valve body comprising a valve inlet configured for fluid communication with a source of pressurized cleaning media, a valve outlet, a fluid passage between the valve inlet and the valve outlet, a valve seat surrounding an opening in the fluid passage between the valve inlet and the valve outlet;
- an actuator comprising a plunger having a sealing pin;
- and
- a flexible diaphragm moveable into engagement with the valve seat to close the electronic valve and out of engagement with the valve seat to open the electronic valve;
- a power connector connectable to an external current supply and comprising a snap-lock element configured to couple the power connector with a corresponding connector to establish an electrical connection between the electronic valve and a power source via a snap-fit connection;
- an elastomeric sealing element at an interface between the nozzle and the electronic valve;
- and
- a bypass connector defining at least a portion of a bypass passage that branches off from the fluid passage between the valve inlet and the valve outlet to conducts cleaning media around the flexible diaphragm, the bypass connector comprising a quick connect coupling, whereby a conduit can be connected and unconnected to the bypass connector by hand;
- wherein the proximal inlet end of the nozzle is directly connected to the valve outlet of the electronic valve, and the valve inlet is outside the nozzle and projecting away from the longitudinal assembly axis;
- wherein the valve body is snap-fit to the actuator to establish a mounted position of the valve body on the actuator and the nozzle is snap-fit to the valve body to establish a mounted position of the nozzle on the electronic valve;
- and
- wherein the bypass connector is disposed between the nozzle and the actuator, and the bypass connector extends radially from the valve body in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal assembly axis and orthogonal to the elongated peripheral wall of the nozzle.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.