Fluid Distribution System and Method, and Cleaning System and Method, and Vehicle Incorporating Same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fluid distribution system (40), a cleaning system, and to a vehicle in which the fluid distribution system (40) or cleaning system may be employed. In an embodiment, the vehicle comprises optical sensors serving as advanced driver assistance systems, which is also equipped with the (sensor) cleaning system having a fluid volume (10), two or more electrically actuated fluid pressure sources (20), the fluid distribution system (40), hoses and nozzles allowing to clean the optical devices and to ensure system availability under adverse driving conditions. The fluid distribution system is suitably composed of pressure-actuated flow control devices, actuated in binary mode by hydraulic or pneumatic pressure from the fluid pressure sources and controlled by the logic combination of (the ON / OFF state of the) fluid pressure sources, to achieve the distribution function. This results in as many individually controllable outlets as there are ON / OFF combinations of the fluid pressure sources. This allows to increase the number of individually switchable outlets without increasing the number of individual pressure sources like pumps or electromechanical valves, and avoids the need for complex electronic control.