Fluid distribution valve for a vehicle windshield washer liquid distribution system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11001233-B2
Application number	US-201515546295-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2015
Priority date	Jan 30, 2015
Publication date	May 11, 2021
Grant date	May 11, 2021

Abstract

Fluid distribution valve (11), particularly for a vehicle screen wash system, characterized in that it comprises a body (41) defining a duct (43) for the passage of fluid and comprising at least one fluid inlet (45) and at least one fluid outlet (47, 49), a membrane (53) housed in the duct and configured to be deformed under the action of a magnetic field between a first position of at least partial closure of the duct and a second position of at least partial opening of the duct, and means (51) for generating a magnetic field within the duct in order to cause the membrane to deform.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fluid distribution valve for a vehicle windshield washer liquid distribution system, comprising:
a body defining a duct for the passage of fluid;
at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet;
a membrane housed in the duct and configured to be deformed by a magnetic field between a first position of at least partial closure of the duct and a second position of at least partial opening of the duct; and
means for generating a magnetic field inside the duct to control the deformation of the membrane,
wherein the membrane is made from a flexible material and contains magnetic particles,
wherein the membrane is deformed by the magnetic field in such a way that the magnetic particles are aligned parallel to field lines of the magnetic field.

2. The valve as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the membrane is fixed to an internal wall of the duct.

3. The valve as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said means consist of a winding of at least one electrical wire around a part of the duct housing the membrane.

4. The valve as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the winding is configured to generate heat for heating the fluid.

5. A hydraulic connector for a vehicle windshield washer liquid distribution system, comprising: at least one valve as claimed in claim 1 .

6. A vehicle windshield washer liquid distribution system comprising at least one valve as claimed in claim 1 .

7. A vehicle windshield wiper system comprising a least one wiper; and at least one valve as claimed in claim 1 .

8. The wiper system as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising: a pump and at least one sprayer manifold connected to the pump by the valve.

9. The wiper system as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising: an arm for driving said wiper.

10. The wiper system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the valve is integrated into means for connecting the wiper to the arm for driving said wiper.

11. The wiper system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the at least one sprayer manifold is situated on the arm.

12. The wiper system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the at least one sprayer manifold is situated on the wiper.

13. A system for cleaning a motor vehicle driving assistance device, wherein the device is one of imaging means or electromagnetic detection means, said system comprising at least one fluid distribution valve as claimed in claim 1 .

Assignees

• Valeo Systemes Dessuyage

Inventors

• Caillot Gérald

Classifications

• B60S1/524

  arranged in wiper blades · CPC title

• F16K7/123

  the seat being formed on the bottom of the fluid line · CPC title

• F16K31/0641

  the valve member being a diaphragm · CPC title

• F16K7/045

  by electric or magnetic means · CPC title

• F16K31/0672

  the valve member being a diaphragm · CPC title