Vehicle assembly for sensor cleaning

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12344200-B2
Application number	US-202218067781-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2022
Priority date	Dec 19, 2022
Publication date	Jul 1, 2025
Grant date	Jul 1, 2025

Abstract

A vehicle assembly includes a housing, a manifold, a plurality of valves, and a cover. The housing includes a panel, and the panel includes a channel integral to the panel. The manifold is disposed in the channel, and the manifold includes a plurality of outlets. The valves are attached to the manifold, and the valves selectively control flow to the outlets. The cover extends over the manifold, the cover is fixed to the panel, and the cover holds the valves in place.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle assembly for sensor-cleaning, comprising:
a housing including a panel, the panel including a channel integral to the panel;
a manifold disposed in the channel, the manifold including a plurality of outlets;
a plurality of valves attached to the manifold and disposed in the channel, the valves selectively controlling flow to the outlets, the valves contacting each other and unconnected to each other; and
a cover extending over the manifold, the cover fixed to the panel, the cover holding the valves in place.

2. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor disposed in the housing.

3. The vehicle assembly of claim 2 , wherein the housing includes a housing lower structure, the housing lower structure includes the panel, and the housing lower structure supports the sensor.

4. The vehicle assembly of claim 3 , wherein the housing lower structure is integral with itself.

5. The vehicle assembly of claim 3 , wherein the housing includes a housing upper structure fixed to the housing lower structure, the housing upper structure and the housing lower structure define a chamber therebetween, the sensor is disposed in the chamber, and the manifold is disposed in the chamber.

6. The vehicle assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a nozzle aimed at the sensor, wherein the nozzle is fluidly connected to one of the outlets.

7. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the panel includes two end walls integral to the panel, and the channel extends from one of the end walls to the other of the end walls.

8. The vehicle assembly of claim 7 , wherein the channel and the end walls define a closed loop.

9. The vehicle assembly of claim 8 , wherein the channel and the end walls define a rectangular protrusion from the panel.

10. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valves are individually removable from the channel.

11. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle assembly lacks fasteners directly attaching the valves to the panel.

12. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the manifold includes a single inlet, and the valves selectively control flow from the inlet to the respective outlets.

13. The vehicle assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a pump arranged to supply fluid to the inlet.

14. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover is fixed to the panel at an attachment point outside the channel.

15. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover is fixed to the panel at a maximum of two attachment points.

16. The vehicle assembly of claim 15 , wherein the maximum of two attachment points include two attachment points, and the two attachment points are located outside the channel.

17. The vehicle assembly of claim 16 , wherein the attachment points are located beyond respective opposite ends of the channel and are separate from the ends of the channel.

18. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valves are arranged in a single row along a length of the channel.

19. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the channel is straight, and the outlets extend perpendicular to a direction defined by the channel.

20. The vehicle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valves are solenoid valves.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Krishnan Venkatesh
• Phinisee Rashaun
• Baldovino Segundo

Classifications

• B60S1/56 Primary

  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)} · CPC title

• F16K27/003

  Housing formed from a plurality of the same valve elements · CPC title

• G01S2007/4977

  including means to prevent or remove the obstruction · CPC title

• B60S1/481

  the operation of at least part of the liquid supply being controlled by electric means (electrical washing liquid warming-up means B60S1/488) · CPC title

• B60S1/52 Primary

  Arrangement of nozzles; {Liquid spreading means}(nozzles per se B05B) · CPC title