Apparatus for cleaning glass surfaces

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (2) for washing at least one glass surface (4) of a vehicle (1), comprising at least one nozzle (10) configured to spray a washing fluid against said at least one glass surface (4), said device (2) comprising at least one line (8) for distributing said washing fluid, a pump (16) and a plurality of solenoid valves (14) or a set of a plurality of solenoid valves (14), each solenoid valve (14) connected to one of said nozzles (10) and coupled to at least one heating element (36).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning device to be mounted on a motor vehicle, and more particularly to the field of systems for cleaning the glass surfaces of such vehicles. [Background technology]

[0002] Whatever the configuration of the glass surfaces of a motor vehicle, it is necessary for the comfort of the occupants but especially for driving safety that the glass surfaces are properly cleaned and are not covered with dirt that may prevent the view through them. By way of example, it will be appreciated that the windshield or rear glass of a vehicle must be effectively cleaned so that the occupants of the vehicle can easily recognize events that may occur in the road environment during the travel of the vehicle. It will also be appreciated that the sensors that are part of the driving assistance device must likewise be effectively cleaned so that the information acquired is reliable and the driving assistance is effective and safe, regardless of the degree of autonomy of the vehicle in which this driving assistance device is integrated.

[0003] Various types of cleaning devices are known, among which it is possible in particular, without being exhaustive, to specify devices equipped with motorized mechanical means for sliding along the glass surface and removing the dirt, or with means for spraying a cleaning fluid consisting of air or a cleaning liquid.

[0004] A cleaning device for spraying a cleaning fluid comprises in particular one or more nozzles, fixed or mobile, arranged to spray the cleaning fluid against the glass surface of the vehicle on which it is placed, and for supplying the nozzles with the cleaning fluid, such a cleaning device comprises at least one pump connected to each of the nozzles by means of an electric valve that ensures the passage or interruption of the flow of the fluid in the cleaning device.

[0005] Although the cleaning device as described above can effectively remove most of the dirt from the glass surface, one cleaning operation may still be insufficient to remove, for example, certain dirt that adheres to the glass surface after drying, certain organic matter such as insects, etc. Therefore, multiple cleaning operations must be performed until the glass surface becomes completely transparent, which may increase the processing time and the cost of the cleaning solution. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is therefore to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks and to provide a cleaning device to be mounted on a vehicle, capable of effectively removing solid debris soiling glass or optical surfaces of the vehicle. The invention proposes in particular a cleaning device comprising at least one heating element for increasing the cleaning effect by heating the cleaning fluid, thus improving the effectiveness of the optical detection system in relation to the optical surfaces and / or the visibility of the use of the vehicle.

[0007] More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning at least one glass surface of a vehicle, comprising at least one nozzle configured to spray a cleaning fluid against said at least one glass surface, said cleaning apparatus comprising at least one line for distributing said cleaning fluid, a pump and a plurality of electric valves or a set of a plurality of electric valves, each electric valve being arranged on said distribution line between said pump and at least one of said nozzles, said distribution line comprising a fluid inlet in which said pump is arranged and at least one fluid outlet in which said at least one nozzle is arranged, characterized in that said cleaning apparatus comprises at least one element for heating said cleaning fluid, said heating element being connected to one of said electric valves or to one of said set of electric valves.

[0008] Glass surface is understood to mean a transparent surface which may, on the one hand, be one of the glasses of the vehicle's passenger compartment, in particular the windshield or rear glass, or, on the other hand, be a glass surface of a detection system mounted in the vehicle, for example an optical surface of an optical sensor.

[0009] Also, glass surface is understood to mean any type of optical surface that allows the passage of a signal from a detection system, and therefore may be made of glass, a plastic material, or any type of material known to those skilled in the art that allows the passage of a signal from a detection system.

[0010] The nozzle is then configured to eject a cleaning fluid onto the glass surface, in particular under the action of an electric valve, the function of which is to at least partially control the flow of the cleaning fluid in the distribution line, in particular by enabling or blocking the passage of said cleaning fluid in said distribution line in the direction of the nozzle associated with the electric valve.

[0011] In accordance with the present invention, as generally described, the heating element is coupled to an electric valve or set of electric valves. It should be understood that in this example the heating element is hydraulically connected to this electric valve or set of electric valves such that cleaning fluid passing through the heating element necessarily passes through the electric valve or set of electric valves to which the heating element is coupled. The connection between the heating element and the electric valve or set of electric valves can be described as a direct connection in that there are no parts of the cleaning apparatus between the heating element and the electric valves.

[0012] The function of the heating element is to heat the washing fluid flowing in the distribution line in the direction of the nozzles, more precisely, the heating element is connected to the electric valve or set of electric valves in such a way that the nozzle or nozzles associated with said electric valve or set of electric valves spray a heated washing fluid that is more effective in its function of washing the glass surfaces of the automobile.

[0013] According to one feature of the invention, a plurality of electric valves or a set of electric valves are connected in series to the distribution line via hydraulic connecting members, and the at least one heating element is disposed between two hydraulic connecting members.

[0014] The hydraulic connection member allows the cleaning fluid to pass from the distribution line to the electric valve. It will be understood that such an arrangement of the heating element heats the cleaning fluid flowing downstream of the heating element in the distribution line. The nozzle connected to the electric valve associated with the hydraulic connection member arranged downstream of the heating element is therefore intended to spray the cleaning fluid heated by said heating element. On the other hand, the nozzle connected to the electric valve associated with the hydraulic connection member arranged upstream of the heating element is intended to spray the unheated cleaning fluid having a temperature substantially the same as that of the fluid exiting the pump. It will be understood that the concept of the hydraulic connection member being upstream and downstream with respect to the heating element is related to the order in which the cleaning fluid passes through the heating element and this hydraulic connection member. Thus, if the cleaning fluid passes first through the heating element and then through the hydraulic connection member, the hydraulic connection member is downstream of the heating element.

[0015] One may choose to provide the heating element only at precise locations in the dispensing line to specifically target the electric valve and associated nozzle where it is useful to have heated cleaning fluid. As an example, because heated cleaning fluid is particularly useful for removing solid debris from glass surfaces, such as crushed insects, and insects are more likely to reside on forwardly disposed optical surfaces than on side-disposed optical surfaces, the heating element may be provided just upstream of the hydraulic connection associated with the forward nozzle.

[0016] According to one feature of the invention, the distribution line comprises a plurality of heating elements distributed along the distribution line, each heating element being arranged between two hydraulic connections of the electric valve.

[0017] Multiple heating elements distributed on the distribution line between two hydraulic connections, i.e. multiple heating elements distributed along the distribution line designed as a hydraulic bus distributing continuously to each electric valve or set of electric valves, can be advantageously used to ensure that the cleaning liquid is sufficiently heated at the end of the distribution line opposite the pump in case an electric valve or set of electric valves located at the end of the distribution line is deemed to need to receive heated cleaning liquid.

[0018] According to one feature of the invention, the distribution line comprises at least one main branch and at least one further branch, the at least one further branch being specific to one of the electric valves or one of the sets of electric valves and connected to the at least one main branch by an interconnection point, and a heating element is coupled to the electric valve or the set of electric valves arranged in the at least one further branch.

[0019] It will be appreciated that such a configuration of the distribution line allows for heating of the cleaning fluid flowing through only the further branch by coupling a heating element to an electric valve or set of electric valves located in said further branch. Thus, precise heating of the cleaning fluid passing through a particular electric valve is possible without this heating by the heating element affecting other parts of the distribution line. Similarly, it will be appreciated that the distribution line may comprise a number of further branches, each connecting to a main branch of the distribution line by a separate interconnection point.

[0020] According to one feature of the invention, the distribution line comprises a plurality of further branches connected to the main branch of the distribution line by a single interconnection point.

[0021] Such an arrangement is advantageously used in that the cleaning fluid can be evenly distributed to each of the further branches, which have the same interconnection points as the main branch.

[0022] According to one feature of the invention, the set of electric valves is arranged in the at least one further branch of the distribution line, and the heating element is arranged between the interconnection point and the set of electric valves.

[0023] It will be appreciated that from such an arrangement of heating elements it is possible to heat the cleaning fluid intended to pass through each of the electrovalves of the set of electrovalves arranged in the further branches.

[0024] According to one alternative of the invention, the set of electric valves is arranged in the at least one further branch of the distribution line, and the heating element is arranged between the set of electric valves and one of the nozzles associated with said set of electric valves.

[0025] It will be appreciated that such an arrangement of the heating elements makes it possible to heat the cleaning fluid intended to be sprayed by one of the nozzles connected to one of the electric valves of the set of electric valves, thus allowing precise heating of the cleaning fluid intended for one of the nozzles of the cleaning device without affecting the cleaning fluid intended to be sprayed by the other nozzles of the cleaning device.

[0026] According to another alternative of the invention, the heating element is integrated into at least one of the electric valves, the expression integrated being understood to mean that the electric valve and the heating element are contained in the same housing and, if necessary, have a common electronic circuit.

[0027] According to one feature of the invention, the cleaning device comprises a module for controlling the heating element, the module being configured to generate a pre-heat command for the heating element as a function of a control command for the electric valve or set of electric valves.

[0028] It will be appreciated that in this example, it is desired to provide an immediate heating effect as the cleaning fluid passes through the heating element. As a non-limiting example, pre-heating may consist of activating the heating element a few seconds before the command to open the electric valve or a set of related electric valves. Alternatively, the pre-heat command may be generated periodically at regular intervals, the duration of which may depend, for example, on the outside air temperature, to ensure that the cleaning fluid always has a temperature higher than the threshold temperature value. The purpose is to ensure the effectiveness of the cleaning fluid regardless of when the electric valve is triggered.

[0029] According to one aspect of the invention, the heating element may be comprised of a passive storage member, such as a phase change material, which stores energy and is susceptible to releasing energy upon the passage of cleaning fluid.

[0030] According to various aspects of the invention, the heating element may consist of an element with a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) effect or a resistive element in the form of a wire or sleeve. Depending on its form, the heating element is arranged to be placed in contact with the pipe through which the cleaning fluid passes, or to be housed inside this pipe or in a cleaning fluid tank.

[0031] The present invention further relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one glass surface and at least one device as described above for cleaning said at least one glass surface, said cleaning device being capable of spraying said fluid onto said at least one glass surface.

[0032] Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent on reading the following description given by way of indication and with reference to the drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a cleaning device integrated into a vehicle having at least one glass surface and the cleaning device having at least one line for dispensing a cleaning fluid. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of at least one nozzle and at least one electric valve of the cleaning device of FIG. 1, the electric valve being coupled to at least one heating element. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the cleaning device of FIG. 1 according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the cleaning device of FIG. 1 according to a second embodiment, in which the line comprises a main branch and a further branch connected to the main branch by an interconnection point. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the cleaning device of FIG. 1 according to a third embodiment, in which a number of further branches are connected to a main branch of the distribution line by a single interconnection point. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, showing a modification of the arrangement of the heating elements with respect to the third embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] First, while the drawings show the present invention in detail for its implementation, it should of course be understood that these drawings can be used to more clearly define the present invention, if necessary. It should also be noted that these drawings show only exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Finally, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements throughout the drawings.

[0035] 1 shows diagrammatically a motor vehicle 1 fitted with a cleaning device 2 according to the invention, capable of cleaning at least one glass surface 4 of the vehicle 1. Such glass surface 4 may for example be the windscreen 4a or the rear glass 4b of the vehicle 1, or it may be an optical surface 4c of an optical detection system 6 fitted to the vehicle 1.

[0036] The cleaning device 2 comprises at least one line 8 for distributing a cleaning fluid, through which said cleaning fluid can flow, and a device arranged at at least one fluid outlet 12 of the distribution line 8 for ejecting the cleaning fluid, in the form of a nozzle 10 in this example. The nozzles 10 are arranged on the vehicle 1 in such a manner that each nozzle 10 is associated with the cleaning of at least one of the glass surfaces 4. Furthermore, the cleaning device 2 comprises a plurality of electric valves 14 or a set of electric valves 14 arranged on the distribution line 8. Each electric valve 14 is controlled to allow or block the passage of the cleaning fluid in a specific part of the distribution line 8 in the direction of one or more nozzles corresponding to said electric valve. The at least one nozzle 10 and the plurality of electric valves 14 or the set of electric valves 14 are explained in more detail below in the remaining part of the detailed description.

[0037] The washing device 2 further comprises a pump 16 and a washing fluid storage tank (not shown). The pump 16 is configured to withdraw washing fluid from the storage tank and continuously supply washing fluid to the distribution line 8. More specifically, an outlet 18 of the pump 16 is connected to a first end 20 of the distribution line 8 forming a fluid inlet 20a of the distribution line 8. The distribution line 8 thus extends from the first end 20 to a second end 22 along the vehicle 1. In the illustrated example, the second end 22 of the distribution line 8 is opposite the first end 20 and is closed such that washing fluid is continuously distributed in the direction of each of the electric valves arranged along the path from the first end 20 to the second end 22 of the distribution line 8.

[0038] 1, the first nozzle 10a is intended to clean the optical surface 4c of an optical detection system 6 used for an automatic analysis of the road situation, i.e. an analysis by the electronics of the vehicle 1, intended in particular for controlling the driving and / or maneuvering assistance devices of the vehicle. The second nozzle 10b is intended to clean the glass surface 4 of the passenger compartment or the optical surface 4c of one of the optical detection systems 6 used exclusively for a direct analysis by the driver of the vehicle 1.

[0039] The distribution line 8 in this example has a first portion 26 located at the front of the vehicle 1 and a second portion 28 located in the passenger compartment. Each portion 26, 28 snakes around a corresponding portion of the vehicle to distribute to all nozzles 10 present in that portion of the vehicle. It will be appreciated that hydraulic continuity is achieved between the portions 26, 28 in this example because a single pump 16 is provided in the distribution line 8.

[0040] With reference to Fig. 2, the nozzles 10 of the cleaning device 2 and their cooperation with the electric valve 14 and the distribution line 8 will be described in more detail. The electric valve 14 and the distribution line 8 are common to at least two of these nozzles 10, as shown diagrammatically in this Fig. 2. Each nozzle 10 is fluidly associated with an electric valve 14 in such a way that the cleaning fluid flowing through the distribution line 8 passes first through the electric valve 14 and then through the nozzle 10. Thus, when the electric valve 14 is in an open configuration, it allows the passage of the cleaning fluid in the distribution line 8 towards the nozzle 10 associated therewith. The cleaning fluid is then injected by the nozzle 10 against the optical surface 4c of the optical detection system 6 associated with the nozzle 10.

[0041] It should be considered that the washing device 2 may further comprise a set of electric valves 14 in its distribution line. A set of electric valves 14 is understood to mean at least two grouped electric valves 14 which are controlled simultaneously, if necessary, to receive the washing fluid simultaneously. A set of electric valves is formed in particular when several nozzles 10 are directed towards the same glass surface 4 of the motor vehicle or when several nozzles are directed towards adjacent glass surfaces and / or towards glass surfaces respectively associated with optical detection systems having the same detection capabilities. It will therefore be understood that in the following description, the features relating to one of the electric valves 14 of the washing device 2 apply mutatis mutandis to several electric valves 14 or to a set of electric valves 14.

[0042] The cleaning device 2 comprises at least one hydraulic connection 32 for connecting the electric valve 14 to the distribution line 8. The hydraulic connection 32 has a shape conducive to ensuring the passage of the cleaning fluid from said distribution line 8 towards the nozzle 10. In the schematic illustrated example, the hydraulic connection 32 may have the shape of a tubular, elongated syringe conducive to passing through the distribution line 8 further forming a hydraulic bus through which the cleaning fluid can be distributed in each direction of the electric valve. When assembling the hydraulic connection 32 to the distribution line 8, a resin (not shown) may be used to surround the connection area between the hydraulic connection 32 and the distribution line 8 so as to ensure the tightness of this connection area. It should be noted that the hydraulic connection is shown in the form of a tapping substantially perpendicular to the flow of the cleaning fluid in this example, but can consist of, for example, a Y-shaped fitting, as long as the fluid can flow continuously between the distribution line and the line capable of leading the fluid to the nozzle, without departing from the context of the invention.

[0043] The cleaning device 2 also comprises at least one mechanical retaining member 34 for fixing the electric valve 14 and the nozzle 10 to the delivery line 8. In the illustrated example, the mechanical retaining member 34 is in the form of a clamp that at least partially surrounds the delivery line 8. For example, an elastically deformable retaining member can be envisaged, which at its start forms a groove having dimensions substantially smaller than those of the delivery line 8. The operator must forcefully deform the mechanical connection member 34 so that it can engage with the delivery line 8, but the elastic return of the mechanical retaining member 34 ensures that it is held in its predetermined position on said line.

[0044] The cleaning device 2 comprises at least one element 36 for heating the cleaning fluid. The heating element 36 is connected to one of the electric valves 14 of the cleaning device 2. According to one embodiment of the invention, the heating element 36 may take the form of a resistive element in contact with a pipe through which the cleaning fluid flows. The function of this heating element is to ensure that the cleaning fluid intended to pass through the electric valve to which it is connected is heated, thereby improving the cleaning effect of said cleaning fluid. In particular, a hot cleaning fluid has a higher cleaning effect in removing debris, especially solid debris, from the glass surface than a cold cleaning fluid. In other words, the heating element 36 is connected to the electric valve 14 in such a way as to ensure the heating of the cleaning fluid sprayed by the nozzle 10 connected to said electric valve 14. The connection of the heating element 36 to the electric valve 14 is in such a way that the hydraulic connection thus formed between the two parts entails that the cleaning fluid necessarily passes through the electric valve or set of electric valves after passing through the heating element, or vice versa.

[0045] According to one exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 2, in which two electric valves 14 of a cleaning device 2 connected in series to one another via the above-mentioned hydraulic connection members 32 to a distribution line 8 can be seen, at least one heating element 36 is arranged between the two hydraulic connection members 32 of the two electric valves 14. With such a configuration of the cleaning device 2, it will be understood that the function of the heating element 36 is to heat the cleaning fluid of the nozzle 10 arranged downstream of the heating element 36 in response to the flow of the cleaning fluid.

[0046] According to another example of the invention, also visible in FIG. 2, the heating element 36 can be directly integrated in the electric valve 14. The term directly integrated is understood to mean that the heating element 36 and the electric valve 14 form a single element in the same housing and that their electronic components can be associated with each other. By way of example, this housing can comprise a control module capable of issuing control commands to the heating element and being in communication with the electric valve or set of electric valves so as to synchronize, if necessary, the operation of the heating element with that of the electric valve or set of electric valves. The control module can in particular generate a pre-heat command for the heating element as a function of the control command for the electric valve or set of electric valves, thereby optimizing the heating period to be effective while limiting the overall electrical consumption of the device.

[0047] It should be noted that although the two exemplary embodiments described above are shown in the same FIG. 2 to visualize several possible configurations of the heating element, one or the other of the exemplary embodiments may be implemented alone.

[0048] Next, several embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 6, each of which shows one embodiment of the present invention. It should be considered that only the different features of each of the embodiments are described in the following description. For common elements, please refer to Figures 1 and 2 above.

[0049] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a cleaning device 2 having a number of electric valves 14 arranged successively along a distribution line, the electric valves 14 being hydraulically connected to said distribution line via hydraulic connections 32. The cleaning device also comprises a number of heating elements 36 distributed along the distribution line 8. More specifically, each of the heating elements 36 is arranged in the distribution line 8 between two successive hydraulic connections 32. In the illustrated example, the first heating element 36a is arranged closer to the pump 16 than the second heating element 36b. The first heating element 36a is arranged between the second and third hydraulic connections arranged along the distribution line. The second heating element 36b is arranged between the two hydraulic connections 32 closest to the second end 22 of the distribution line 8.

[0050] It will be understood that the cleaning fluid flowing through the distribution line 8 is heated as soon as it comes into contact with the heating element, and that the nozzles 10 associated with the electric valves 14 downstream of the heating element are supplied with heated cleaning fluid, in contrast to the nozzles 10 associated with the electric valves 14 upstream of the heating element. In the illustrated example, the two nozzles 10 associated with the two first electric valves in the distribution circuit, i.e. the two electric valves located closest to the first end 20, are upstream of the first heating element 36a, so that the cleaning fluid flowing through these two nozzles is not heated. On the other hand, the other nozzles downstream of the first heating element 36a are intended to receive heated cleaning fluid, if the first heating element 36a is controlled to operate and heat the fluid. In this context, it can be understood that the greater the distance from the first heating element 36a approaching the second end 22 of the distribution line, the less the extent to which the heated fluid has an elevated temperature. It is therefore advantageous to provide a second heating element 36b, particularly near the second end 22 of the distribution line 8, to reheat the cleaning fluid back to the temperature it had immediately after passing through the first heating element 36a.

[0051] 4 shows a schematic representation of a cleaning device 2 according to a second embodiment, in which the distribution line 8 comprises at least one main branch, in this example for example the main branch 38, and at least one further branch, in this example for example the further branch 40. More precisely, the main branch 38 in this example contributes to the formation of a hydraulic distribution bus in accordance with what has been described with reference to FIG. 1. The further branch 40, while attached to the main branch 38, is specific to at least one of the electric valves 14 of the cleaning device 2, in this example one of the sets of electric valves 14. In other words, the set of electric valves 14 is fluidly connected to the further branch 40, the latter being connected to the main branch 38 by an interconnection point 42.

[0052] In a second embodiment, the heating element 36 is connected to a set of electric valves 14 arranged in a further branch 40. The heating element itself is arranged in the further branch. The particular arrangement of the heating element 36 in the further branch 40 allows heating only a part of the washing fluid passing through the further branch 40 of the distribution line 8. In other words, the heating action, and the consumption of electric energy necessary to perform this heating action, is limited to a part of the distribution line and to a part of the fluid flowing therein. The heating is intended for example for a nozzle associated with a glass surface which is located at the front of the vehicle and therefore is likely to be covered with solid dirt such as crushed insects. More precisely, the heating element 36 is arranged in this example upstream of the set of electric valves 14, i.e. between the interconnection point 42 and the set of electric valves 14. The heating element 36 therefore ensures that the washing fluid is heated before it passes through the set of electric valves arranged in the further branch 40.

[0053] In this way, all nozzles 10 arranged downstream of the electrovalves present in this further branch are supplied with heated cleaning fluid.

[0054] It should be considered that the distribution line 8 as described in the second embodiment of the present invention may comprise a number of further branches, each connecting to the main branch by a separate interconnection point.

[0055] 5 shows a schematic representation of a third embodiment of the cleaning device 2. The third embodiment is distinguished from the second embodiment described above by the fact that the distribution line 8 comprises a number of further branches 40 which connect to the main branch 38 of the distribution line 8 by a single interconnection point 42. In the illustrated example, the distribution line 8 comprises three further branches 40 which connect to the main branch 38 by a single interconnection point 42. Each of the further branches 40 is dedicated to one of the sets of separate electric valves 14. The heating element 36 is arranged between one of the sets of electric valves 14 of one of the further branches 40 of the distribution line 8 and the interconnection point 42.

[0056] In accordance with what has been described for the second embodiment, the position of the heating element 36 on the distribution line 8 allows heating only the cleaning fluid passing through the further branch 40 bearing the set of electric valves 14 to which the heating element 36 is associated. The heating element 36 can then heat the cleaning fluid passing through all the electric valves 14 of the set of electric valves 14 of said further branch 40.

[0057] FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the invention forming an alternative to the third embodiment. The heating element 36 is arranged in the fourth embodiment between the set of electric valves 14 and the nozzle 10. More precisely, the heating element 36 is arranged between one of the electric valves 14 of the set of electric valves 14 and the nozzle 10 associated with said electric valve. As mentioned above, the heating element is associated in particular with one further branch, but in this example is arranged downstream of the set of electric valves, so that it is possible to heat the cleaning fluid passing only through one of the electric valves 14 of the set of electric valves 14 supported on one of the further branches 40 of the distribution line 8. Such an embodiment is advantageously used in that it allows a targeted heating of the cleaning fluid. In other words, the heating element 36 heats only the cleaning fluid intended to be sprayed against one of the glass surfaces by one of the nozzles 10 associated with one of the electric valves 14 of the set of electric valves 14 supported on one of the further branches 40 of the distribution line 8. Likewise, the heating is particularly targeted at nozzles associated with glass surfaces which are located at the front of the vehicle and therefore prone to becoming covered with solid contaminants such as crushed insects.

[0058] A cleaning device as described above is advantageously used in that it allows better cleaning of glass surfaces provided in motor vehicles by simple means. In particular, the arrangement of at least one heating element linked to the electric valve makes it possible to heat the cleaning fluid intended to be sprayed by one or more nozzles associated with said electric valve. This can be particularly advantageous to carry out a specific heating of a portion of the cleaning liquid intended to be sprayed on one of the glass surfaces, with the aim of limiting to a strict minimum the energy consumption required to heat the liquid.

[0059] However, the above-described invention is not limited to the exclusively described and illustrated means and arrangements, but also applies to all equivalent means or arrangements and any combination of such means or arrangements.

Claims

1. A device (2) for cleaning at least one glass surface (4) of a vehicle (1), comprising: at least one nozzle (10) configured to spray a cleaning fluid against said at least one glass surface (4); The cleaning device (2) comprises at least one line (8) for distributing the cleaning fluid, a pump (16), and a number of electric valves (14) or a set of a number of electric valves (14), Each electric valve (14) is disposed in the delivery line (8) between the pump (16) and at least one of the nozzles (10), the distribution line (8) comprises a fluid inlet (20a) in which the pump (16) is arranged, and at least one fluid outlet (12) in which the at least one nozzle (10) is arranged; In the cleaning device (2), The cleaning device (2) comprises at least one element (36) for heating the cleaning fluid, the heating element (36) is coupled to one of the electric valves (14) or to one of the set of electric valves (14); the distribution line (8) comprises at least one main branch (38) and at least one further branch (40), the at least one further branch (40) being specific to one of the electric valves (14) or to one of the sets of electric valves (14) and connected to the at least one main branch (38) by an interconnection point (42); a heating element (36) coupled to the electric valve (14) or to the set of electric valves (14) arranged in the at least one further branch (40); the set of electric valves (14) is arranged in the at least one further branch (40) of the distribution line (8); the heating element (36) is disposed between the interconnection point (42) and the set of electric valves (14); A cleaning device (2).

2. A plurality of electrovalves (14) or a set of electrovalves (14) are connected in series to said distribution line (8) via hydraulic connections (32); The at least one heating element (36) is disposed between two hydraulic connecting members (32). A cleaning device (2) according to claim 1.

3. the distribution line (8) comprises a plurality of heating elements (36) distributed along the distribution line (8); Each heating element (36) is disposed between two hydraulic connections (32) of said electric valve (14). A cleaning device (2) according to claim 2.

4. the distribution line (8) comprises a plurality of further branches (40) connected to the main branch (38) of the distribution line (8) by a single interconnection point (42); A cleaning device (2) according to claim 1.

5. the set of electric valves (14) is arranged in the at least one further branch (40) of the distribution line (8); the heating element (36) is disposed between the set of electric valves (14) and one of the nozzles (10) associated with that set of electric valves; A cleaning device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims.

6. The heating element (36) is integrated into the at least one electric valve (14). A cleaning device (2) according to claim 1.

7. The cleaning device (2) comprises a module for controlling the heating element, the module is configured to generate a pre-heat command for the heating element (36) as a function of a control command for the electric valve or set of electric valves (14); A cleaning device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims.

8. At least one glass surface (4); A motor vehicle (1) comprising at least one device (2) for cleaning said at least one glass surface (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The cleaning device (2) is capable of spraying the fluid onto the at least one glass surface (4) of a motor vehicle (1).

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