Patents Assigned to Valeo
  • Ventilating device for rotary electrical machine
    Patent number: 7358630
    Abstract: The ventilating device fixed on a rotor of a rotary electrical machine, comprises a first fan (62a) having a radial plate portion (64a), at least one second fan (62b) having a radial plate portion (64b), and means for fastening the two fans (62a, 62b), each fan (62a, 62b) having, at the outer peripheiy of its radial plate portion, first branches (78a) and second branches (78b) which extend radially outwards, at least some of the branches having a blade (68a, 68b), while at least one first branch (78a) and at least one second branch (78b) includes a first (78a) and a second (78b) mutual overlapping portion to define an overlap zone (Z), the said fastening means (80, 82) being at least partly arranged at the level of the overlap zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventors: Claudiu Vasilescu, Richard Tellier, Nam-Gook Kim
  • Method for operating a wiper system, and corresponding wiper system
    Patent number: 7355360
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a wiper system, especially an opposed wiper system or a butterfly wiper system, and to a wiper system comprising at least two motor units which are coupled to wiper blades and can be independently driven, a control appliance for controlling the motor units, and sensor units which are coupled to the control appliance and are used to determine the angular position of the wiper blades. The invention is characterised in that the wiping angle of the wiper blades is divided into areas, the area containing the respective wiper blade being determined along with the angle of the wiper blade inside the respective area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Wischersysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Jean Assan
  • Lighting and/or signaling device for an automobile
    Patent number: 7354176
    Abstract: The object of the invention is a method of fixing a outer lens to the housing of a lighting and/or signaling device for an automobile, the housing being provided, in the area of joining with the outer lens, with a bonding groove, a method during which adhesive which is not totally hardened is disposed in the said groove, the foot of the outer lens is inserted in a groove so that it is outer lens with adhesive over a sufficient height, the adhesive hardens in particular to fix the foot of the outer lens in the bonding groove. At least one step of temporary fixing of the outer lens to the housing is provided, after the insertion of the foot of the outer lens in the bonding groove and after any hardening of the adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Jacques Bouteiller, Jean-Claude Puente, Alain Levilain
  • Arrangement for fixing a wiper device which can be used to retract the drive shaft in the event of an impact
    Patent number: 7353561
    Abstract: An arrangement for fixing a wiper device for a motor vehicle includes at least one stand for guiding and fixing a drive shaft that extends axially in a substantially vertical direction. The stand includes a barrel in which the shaft is guided in rotation, and a horizontal base plate for fixing the stand to a structural element of the vehicle, by a damper block made of an elastically deformable material. The damper block is fixed to the structural element by a fixing element, which includes a vertical rod that passes through the damper block and is connected to the structural element, and an element for locking the damper block on the structural element. The rod and locking element are connected by connection means for enabling the rod and locking element to disconnect, through downward sliding of the locking element with respect to the rod, when subjected to a violent impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes d'Essuyage
    Inventors: Pascal Morin, Joël Princet
  • Electromagnetic Actuator Comprising An Electromagnet With A Coil Secured To A Permanent Magnet, And A Method Of Assembling Such An Actuator
    Publication number: 20080079521
    Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator comprising an actuator member (7, 8) movable under the action of at least one electromagnet (1) comprising a coil (3) associated with a core (2) arranged to channel magnetic flux generated by the coil (3) so that it loops through the actuator member, the coil comprising a winding (21) of conductor wire covered in a casing (20), and the electromagnet including at least one permanent magnet (4) disposed relative to the core (2) in such a manner that the core channels flux generated by the permanent magnet so that it loops through the actuator member. According to the invention, the casing of the coil covers at least part of the permanent magnet (4) in such a manner as to secure the permanent magnet (4) to the winding (21) of conductor wire, such that the conductor wire winding and the permanent magnet form a one-piece unitary assembly suitable for being fitted on the core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: Valeo Systemes de Controle Moteur
    Inventors: Christophe Maerky, Lucien Donce, Eddy Cheri-Zecote
  • Multi-zone heat exchangers with separated manifolds
    Publication number: 20080078537
    Abstract: A multi-zone heat exchanger having multiple zones created by physical means in the same heat exchanger, is described. A separation means, such as a divider or baffle, is provided across and/or along the length of a heat exchanger tank or manifold to create different circulation environments of heat exchange or circuit zones, wherein heat exchange can occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: Valeo, Inc.
    Inventor: Sameer Desai
  • System and method of detecting driving conditions for a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 7350945
    Abstract: A system for a motor vehicle for detecting driving conditions on a road, including a nebulosity, the range of visibility in the presence of a nebulosity or the distance between an obstacle in the road and the motor vehicle. The system includes a headlight which emits a visible light beam and an infrared light beam, at least one light sensor which receives at least a portion of the infrared beam reflected back to the vehicle, a optical device for directing at least a part of the reflected infrared beam to the light sensor and a device for detecting the modulated signal of the reflected infrared beam and determining at least one driving condition based on a comparison of the reflected infrared beam modulated signal and the corresponding emitted infrared beam modulated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Pierre Albou, Joël Lelevé
  • Coupling device for a handling trolley
    Patent number: 7350799
    Abstract: A coupling device for a handling trolley comprises a drawbar (22) arranged at the front of the trolley and designed to co-operate with the hook (24) provided at the back of a tractor, in particular a trolley preceding a line of trolleys. The drawbar (22) comprises a longitudinal slot (36) wherein the hook (24) is designed to slide such that the hook can slide in the longitudinal slot between a position spaced apart wherein the trolley (10) is at a maximum distance from the tractor while it is being towed and a closer position wherein the trolley is at a minimum distance from the tractor to reduce the space requirement when it is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Thermique Moteur
    Inventors: Jean Labadie, Jean-Pierre Cribier
  • Headlight for a motor vehicle with a cut-off beam, and a shield assembly for such a headlight
    Patent number: 7347602
    Abstract: The object of the invention is a headlight for a motor vehicle comprising a reflector of the ellipsoidal type; a light source placed at a first focus of the reflector; a convergent optical means whose object focus is situated close to the second focus of the reflector; a first shield situated close to the second focus of the reflector and oriented transversely to the optical axis of the headlight with a substantially horizontal top edge; and a second shield substantially parallel to the first shield but offset along the optical axis in order to be situated closer to the optical means. The second shield is fixed to the first in order to form a single-piece assembly with a transverse section substantially in a V or U shape, the two arms of which correspond to the two shields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Benoist Fleury, Nicolas Louvet, Jean-Matthieu Tourenq
  • Method of providing modulated illumination of a road, and a vehicle headlight for performing the said method
    Patent number: 7347595
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of lighting a road with a vehicle headlight, in which the projected light is modulated in response to the presence of any persons on the road. The method comprises the following operations: detecting in the road scene at least one person, pinpointing the location of the person in the road scene, creating on an imager a mask having dimensions and position corresponding to the person, and lighting the road through the imager, to create a projected shadow around the person. The invention also provides a headlight for performing this method and having a first light source towards the imager, and an electronic system for generating light-occulting masks on the imager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Norbert Brun, Pierre Albou, Antoine De Lamberterie, Joël Leleve
  • Method and device for determining the position of at least one point of reflection on an obstacle
    Patent number: 7349820
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the position (x, y) of at least one point of reflection (R1-2) on an obstacle. According to traditional methods of this kind a first distance (r1) between the point of reflection (R1-2) and a first position (x1) of a distance measuring device is calculated by evaluating a time period between the emission of a transmission signal and reception of a reflection signal. In order to state the unsharp position of the point of reflection thereby obtained even more precisely, in addition to the first distance (r1), a second distance (r2) of the point of reflection is calculated with respect to a second position (x2) of the distance measuring device in analogy to the calculation of the first distance (r1) and then a defined position (x, y) is calculated from the pair of variates (x1, r1) (x2, r2) so obtained using the triangulation method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Shalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Heinrich Gotzig, Oliver Eckstein, Marion Henry, Thomas Jung, Nicolas Jecker
  • Device for filtering rotation and transmission vibrations for motor vehicle comprising same
    Patent number: 7347122
    Abstract: A filtering device is provided for filtering vibrations transmitted by a rotating engine component (11) adapted to drive in rotation an output shaft (19), which device comprises a drive shaft damper (20) tuned at a frequency substantially locked within a range of frequencies to be damped: electromagnetic modulating systems (23) are designed to adapt the frequency of the damper (20) to the frequency of the vibrations transmitted by the rotary component (11). Moreover, a transmission is provided for motor vehicle comprising a drive shaft (11), linked to a rotary component formed by the motor vehicle engine crankshaft, an output shaft (19) linked to the drive shaft releasable via a clutch, a gearbox (50), the output shaft (19) being the input shaft of the gearbox (50), a filtering device being provided for filtering vibrations emitted, hence transmitted, by the rotary component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventor: Jacques Clausin
  • Lighting module for a vehicle headlight
    Patent number: 7347600
    Abstract: A lighting module for a vehicle headlight for producing a lighting beam of the type having a cut-off. The module is adapted for use with light emitting diodes and has a first reflector including an elliptical surface for reflecting light rays. The lighting module includes a second reflector for producing a first portion of the cut-off beam that passes through a second focus of the first reflector. The lighting module also includes a third reflector for producing a second portion of the cut-off beam, the optical axis of which passes through the second focus of the reflector. The lighting module further includes a bender, or fourth reflector, having a cut-off edge arranged between the second reflector and the third reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Pierre Albou
  • Heat exchanger with reinforced neck
    Publication number: 20080066896
    Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly comprising a heat exchanger with tank having a neck, and, in various embodiments, an assembly further comprising a hose to form a hose-neck connection is provided. A heat exchanger assembly comprising a hose-neck connection, having the advantage of providing for a connection resistant to temperature and pressure conditions of heat exchangers is provided. By providing for particular rib patterns on the neck, an optimized rib pattern can be found based on the environmental conditions and use of the heat exchanger assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: Valeo, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael V. Powers
  • ADAPTER FOR FIXING A WINDSCREEN WIPER BLADE TO AN ARM
    Publication number: 20080066254
    Abstract: An adapter intended for fixing a windscreen wiper blade, by pivoting connection around a spindle, on an arm comprising an end rod designed to be inserted in the adapter, where the adapter is intended to be mounted on the windscreen wiper blade. The adapter has a substantially U-shaped cross-section in which the flanges each have an orifice for snapping onto the said spindle and one end of which, called the entry end, is open for inserting the end rod of the arm. The adapter includes transverse locking means and longitudinal locking means of the said arm. The adapter further includes a first longitudinal locking means including an articulated part provided with a tenon fitted in an orifice arranged on the rod, and a second longitudinal locking means including a housing arranged on the adapter in which a stop on the rod comes into engagement, when the latter is fitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: Valeo Systemes d'Essuyage
    Inventor: Pascal Vacher
  • Modular ultrasonic sensor
    Patent number: 7343803
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an ultrasonic sensor used, for example, in the form of an ultrasonic vehicle parking aid provided with a sensor having an ultrasonic membrane and optionally a board provided with mounted required electronics and a coupling for an electric plug-in connection which are arranged therein, wherein said coupling is placed on a separate coupling housing and the sensor housing is combinable with different coupling housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Triebl, Anton Lill, Oliver Eidel
  • Generating event signals in a radar system
    Patent number: 7345619
    Abstract: A radar system having a transmit signal path and a receive signal path and an event generator which is responsive to command signals provided by a digital signal processor (DSP) is described. The DSP generates command signals and provides the command signals to the event generator. In response to the command signals, the event generator generates event signals in the radar system. The event signals include but are not limited to ramp control signals provided to a controllable signal source which provide RF signals to the transmit path of the radar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Raytheon Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis Hunt
  • Friction Device for a Clutch, Particularly of a Motor Vehicle
    Publication number: 20080060899
    Abstract: The invention relates to a friction device for a clutch, particularly of a motor vehicle. The inventive friction device comprises first and second axially-spaced coaxial friction lining members which are defined by opposing friction faces. The device also comprises means for linking the two friction lining members which are solidly connected to one another. The first friction lining member is essentially ring shaped. The aforementioned linking means comprise linking tongue elements which are each equipped with a first end for solidly connecting to an inner edge of the first friction lining member and a second end for solidly connecting to the second friction lining member. Moreover, a deviation angle is provided between said first and second connecting ends, which can vary according to the axial spacing of the two friction lining member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: VALEO MATERIAUX DE FRICTION
    Inventors: Géradu Vatin, Philippe Pineda, Pierre Dumas, Valérie Tessier
  • Device For Controlling An Automatic Start/Stop System
    Publication number: 20080060601
    Abstract: A device for controlling the operating state of a system for the automatic starting/stopping of a heat engine of a vehicle. The invention is characterised in that the device comprises at least one operating state indicator (F1, F2) which is associated with an operating mode of the system and which can adopt a first position (B1, P1) in an operating mode inhibition state, a second position (B2, P2) in an operating mode activation state and a third position (B3, P3) in an operating mode intermediate state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: VALEO EQUIPEMENTS ELECTRIQUES MOTEUR
    Inventors: Brice Lecole, Magali Laurence
  • Headlight apparatus with an occulting element having an integral fastening system, and a method of fastening an occulting element in a headlight apparatus
    Patent number: 7341368
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a headlight apparatus in which fastening of an occulter is independent from the fastening of a light source. To this end, the headlight apparatus includes an occulter with an occulting portion which is fitted in a reflector, the occulting portion being extended in length by a central portion which is terminated by a retaining foot held in a housing formed on an outer face of the reflector, at the level of an aperture formed in the body of the reflector, by mechanical pressure exerted between the walls of the housing and the retaining foot. Preferably, the retaining foot consists of a first tongue which is used as a locking key, and a second tongue which includes, in particular, a locking slot for receiving the locking key whereby to spread the retaining foot laterally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Florian Bariller, Julien Cesaire