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US 2021/0261097 A1Published application
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
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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.
Claims20
An assembly for cleaning a vehicle surface comprising:
- a nozzle comprising at least one cleaning fluid outlet and a peripheral wall elongated along an 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, and 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 valve and out of engagement with the valve seat to open the valve;
- a power connector connectable to an external current supply;
- and
- an elastomeric sealing element at an interface between the nozzle and the valve;
- wherein the nozzle comprises a proximal inlet end and a distal outlet end, with the proximal inlet end directly connected to the valve body and the at least one cleaning fluid outlet provided at the distal outlet end.
7 more elements
An assembly for cleaning a vehicle surface comprising:
- a nozzle comprising at least one cleaning fluid outlet, a peripheral wall elongated along an 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 valve and out of engagement with the valve seat to open the 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 valve and a power source via a snap-fit connection;
- an elastomeric sealing element at an interface between the nozzle and the valve;
- and
- a bypass connector defining at least a portion of a bypass passage that conducts cleaning media around the valve, the bypass connector comprising a quick connect coupling, whereby a conduit can be connected and unconnected to the bypass connector by hand;
- wherein the nozzle comprises a proximal inlet end and a distal outlet end, with the proximal inlet end directly connected to the valve body and the at least one cleaning fluid outlet provided at the distal outlet end;
- 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.
9 more elements
An assembly for cleaning a vehicle surface comprising:
- a first nozzle comprising at least one cleaning fluid outlet;
- a second nozzle comprising at least one cleaning fluid outlet;
- an electronic valve controlling a flow of a cleaning media to the first and second nozzles, the electronic valve comprising:
- a valve body;
- a valve inlet configured for fluid communication with a source of pressurized cleaning media;
- a first valve outlet, wherein the first nozzle is directly connected to the first valve outlet, the first valve outlet comprising a hollow tip projecting through a proximal inlet end of the first nozzle;
- a second valve outlet, wherein the second nozzle is directly connected to the first valve outlet, the second valve outlet comprising a hollow tip projecting through a proximal inlet end of the second nozzle;
- a first fluid passage fluidly connecting the valve inlet and the first valve outlet;
- and
- a second fluid passage fluidly connecting the valve inlet and the second valve outlet;
- a power connector connectable to an external current supply;
- a first elastomeric sealing element at an interface between the first nozzle and the first valve outlet;
- and
- a second elastomeric sealing element at an interface between the second nozzle and the second valve outlet.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.