Liquid recovery system for a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11904816-B2
Application number	US-201917055356-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 22, 2019
Priority date	May 24, 2018
Publication date	Feb 20, 2024
Grant date	Feb 20, 2024

Abstract

The invention relates to a liquid recovery system for a motor vehicle and to a vehicle including such a recovery system that that includes at least one liquid intake that communicates with a tank and is referred to as the first tank, which is designed to store liquid from the liquid intake and where the liquid intake is arrangeably designed below the vehicle's beltline.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid recovery system for a motor vehicle, the liquid recovery system comprising:
a first tank having a first tank inlet and an outlet orifice, the first tank being sized and shaped to be mounted below the beltline and on the underframe of the motor vehicle;
a second tank;
at least one scoop-shaped liquid intake having an inlet facing the front end of the motor vehicle and extending over part of the width of the motor vehicle, the scoop-shaped liquid intake being directly fluidically connected to the first tank inlet such that liquid entering the scoop-shaped liquid intake is directed through the first tank inlet and into the first tank;
a flap pivotably mounted on the scoop-shaped liquid intake, the flap being pivotably movable between a closed position where the flap plugs inlet and an open position where inlet can receive liquid;
a conduit fluidically connected to the outlet orifice and the second tank to facilitate liquid transport from the first tank to the second tank;
a pump for pumping liquid through the conduit from the first tank to the second tank; and
a filter operably disposed within the fluid path defined by the conduit to remove contaminants from the liquid flowing through the conduit.

2. The liquid recovery system of claim 1 wherein the at least one scoop-shaped liquid intake includes a curved bottom and a flat upper wall.

3. The liquid recovery system of claim 1 further comprising:
a grill covering the inlet of the liquid intake to prevent solids above a predetermined size from entering the liquid intake.

4. The liquid recovery system of claim 3 wherein the grill includes a perforated plate.

5. The liquid recovery system of claim 1 further comprising:
a motor operably connected to the flap to move the flap between the open and the closed positions.

6. The liquid recovery system of claim 1 further comprising:
a manual means operably connected to the flap to move the flap between the open and closed positions.

7. The liquid recovery system of claim 1 wherein the first tank includes internal partitions defining a plurality of chambers that are fluidically connected or includes ribs arranged in the bottom of the first tank.

8. The liquid recovery system of claim 1 further comprising:
a sensor for sensing a liquid level in the first tank.

9. The liquid recovery system of claim 1 wherein the second tank is fluidically connected to at least one liquid dispensing means for cleaning windows or sensors of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Valeo Systemes Dessuyage

Inventors

• Andre-Masse Laurent
• Carraro Philippe
• Carrion Julien
• Duprat Pierre-Francois
• Rousseau Jean-Francois
• Villemin Grégory

Classifications

• B01D21/0024

  Inlets or outlets provided with regulating devices, e.g. valves, flaps (B01D21/24 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B01D21/0012

  Settling tanks making use of filters, e.g. by floating layers of particulate material · CPC title

• B01D21/0003

  Making of sedimentation devices, structural details thereof, e.g. prefabricated parts · CPC title

• B01D2221/08

  Mobile separation devices · CPC title

• B01D21/0006

  Settling tanks provided with means for cleaning and maintenance · CPC title