DE102021208930B4 - Distribution device and liquid distribution actuator - Google Patents

Abstract

Distribution device for supplying individual cleaning points of a vehicle with a pressurized liquid, the distribution device (D) having a housing (8) with a distributor (16) arranged therein that can be driven by an electric motor and also liquid receiving and liquid guiding means (18, 20, 22, 26, 28 ), wherein the distributor (16) is rotatably adjustable in defined positions relative to the housing (8), in which a liquid-pressurized inlet connection (Az) with one of several outlet connections (ARSi, ARSi+1... ARSi+n) for supply is fluidly connected to an assigned cleaning point, the distributor (16), which is essentially cylindrical, supplying the liquid, depending on the rotational adjustment, via liquid receiving and liquid guiding means on the radial circumference to one of the drain connections (ARSi, ARSi+1... ARSi+n ) controls, wherein the distribution device (D) is designed for a liquid return to a tank, for this purpose a contiguous space filled with pumped liquid between the distributor (16) and the housing (8) during operation of the distribution device (D). is fluidly connected to a return connection (AR) of the distribution device (D), characterized in that the liquid receiving and liquid guiding means comprise first return channels in the form of - with respect to their channel cross sections - closed liquid channels (26), which are in the distributor (16) and over its circumference are arranged distributed and extend between two end faces (SI, SII) of the distributor (16) and / or second return channels in the form of - with respect to their channel cross sections - open liquid channels, which are distributed on the hydraulic connection side of the distributor (18) and over its circumference Shape of longitudinal grooves (28) are arranged.

Description

The invention relates to a distribution device for a liquid distribution actuator and a liquid distribution actuator with such a distribution device.

From the publications DE 10 2017 129 991 A1 , EP 3 153 361 A1 , DE 11 2016 005 328 T5 as well as DE 11 2019 003 177 T5 a device for distributing washing water to several components of a vehicle to be cleaned is known.

From the DE 759 334 A is a distribution valve known from the field of chemistry for distributing gases or liquids.

From the DE 38 40 621 A1 A check valve for a windshield washer system is known.

One object underlying the invention is to improve water distribution for vehicle cleaning, in view of the increasing number of vehicle sensors.

This task is solved by a distribution device proposed and protected according to claim 1. A liquid distribution actuator with such a distribution device is also proposed and placed under protection (cf. claim 5). Furthermore, a cleaning device, a vehicle and an operating method are proposed and placed under protection (see claims 10, 11 and 12). Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

A distribution device for supplying individual cleaning points of a vehicle with a pressurized liquid is proposed. The distribution device comprises a housing with a distributor arranged therein that can be driven by an electric motor and also liquid receiving and liquid guiding means. The distributor is rotatably adjustable relative to the housing in defined positions, in which a liquid-pressurized inlet connection is fluidly connected to one of several outlet connections for supplying an assigned cleaning point.

The distributor is essentially cylindrical in shape and controls or guides the liquid via liquid receiving and liquid guiding means on the radial circumference - depending on the orientation or rotational adjustment of the distributor to a space in the housing that accommodates it - to the desired locations or to one of the locations or to one of the drain connections of the distribution device and thus to the desired cleaning points or to one of the cleaning points of the vehicle.

These liquid receiving and liquid guiding means can be designed on the distributor in the form of, for example, an annular groove on the radial circumference and a longitudinal groove on the radial circumference, the longitudinal groove extending transversely from the annular groove - and thereby, for example, orthogonally - and is therefore fluidly connected to it. This annular groove and longitudinal groove are therefore provided or arranged on a circumferential side of the distributor or on the radial circumference side of the distributor and opposite an associated housing section.

This proposed water distribution mechanism simplifies a vehicle cleaning device or a vehicle cleaning system and thus reduces the associated costs because it allows liquid feed pumps to be saved. Consequently, this also results in weight savings. By saving feed pumps, corresponding pump control is also simplified.

In addition, this proposed water distribution mechanism reduces cleaning fluid consumption. And this in turn is expressed in an increase in the range of a vehicle, which can be achieved by filling a cleaning liquid container or tank. This applies in particular to fully autonomous vehicles in the future, which will have a significantly higher number of sensors than previous vehicles - including safety-relevant sensors - and whose functionality must be ensured.

Furthermore, the saving of required device or system components also promotes a corresponding compactness of such a device or system, so that less installation space is required overall.

A cleaning point can be understood as meaning a cleaning point assigned to a vehicle sensor. This cleaning point does not have to be part of the sensor itself, but can be arranged at a distance from it, for example a point on a windshield and the like. The cleaning point can also be part of a vehicle sensor, for example a cleaning point assigned to a camera. However, a cleaning point can also be another point on the vehicle that is not assigned to a vehicle sensor as such, for example another point on the windshield in question, a point on a headlight and the like.

In the simplest case, a liquid or cleaning liquid can be understood to mean water, but advantageously an aqueous cleaning agent solution, ie water in combination with a cleaning agent additive. The cleaning agent solution can also advantageously contain a freezing or antifreeze agent, which as such lowers the freezing point of the cleaning agent solution.

The distributor of the distribution device is designed without a seal compared to the housing of the distribution device. It is therefore proposed to provide a liquid return to a tank. For this purpose, a contiguous space filled with pumped liquid between the distributor and the housing during operation of the distribution device is fluidly connected to a return connection of the distribution device.

During operation of the distribution device, the distributor - which as such is essentially cylindrical in shape - forms a defined radial gap on the radial circumference side with an assigned housing part or housing section, over which pumped liquid spreads in the housing - and over the distributor - and thereby between the distributor on the radial circumference side and the housing part or housing section forms a liquid leakage film or a liquid leakage flow, which distances the distributor from the housing. The liquid receiving and liquid guiding means provided on the radial circumference of the distributor - for example in the form of the aforementioned annular groove and longitudinal groove - control or guide the liquid to the desired locations of the distribution device, depending on the orientation or rotational adjustment of the distributor to the said housing part or housing section .

Some of the said liquid absorption and liquid conveying means on and/or in the distributor cause or promote or support the return of liquid into the tank.

• einen ersten im Gehäuse vorgesehenen - bezüglich seines Kanalquerschnitts - geschlossenen Flüssigkeitskanal, welcher mit dem Zulaufanschluss fluidisch verbunden ist;
• einen zweiten am Verteiler vorgesehenen - bezüglich seines Kanalquerschnitts - offenen Flüssigkeitskanal in Gestalt einer Ringnut, in welchen der erste Flüssigkeitskanal mündet;
• einen dritten am Verteiler vorgesehenen - bezüglich seines Kanalquerschnitts - offenen Flüssigkeitskanal in Gestalt einer Längsnut, die quer - und dabei bspw. orthogonal - zur Ringnut liegt und von dieser abgeht; sowie
• eine Vielzahl von weiteren im Gehäuse vorgesehenen - und bezüglich ihrer Kanalquerschnitte - geschlossenen, vierten Flüssigkeitskanälen, welche jeweils mit einem der Ablaufanschlüsse fluidisch verbunden und infolge einer entsprechenden Drehverstellung des Verteilers mit dessen Längsnut fluidisch verbindbar sind.

In one embodiment, the fluid intake and fluid management means include:

• a first liquid channel provided in the housing - closed with respect to its channel cross section - which is fluidly connected to the inlet connection;
• a second liquid channel provided on the distributor - with respect to its channel cross section - open in the form of an annular groove, into which the first liquid channel opens;
• a third liquid channel provided on the distributor - open with respect to its channel cross section - in the form of a longitudinal groove which lies transversely - and for example orthogonally - to the annular groove and extends from it; as well as
• a plurality of further fourth liquid channels provided in the housing - and closed with respect to their channel cross sections, which are each fluidly connected to one of the drain connections and can be fluidly connected to its longitudinal groove as a result of a corresponding rotational adjustment of the distributor.

• erste Rücklaufkanäle in Gestalt von - bezüglich ihrer Kanalquerschnitte - geschlossenen Flüssigkeitskanälen, welche im Verteiler und über dessen Umfang verteilt angeordnet sind und sich zwischen zwei Stirnseiten des Verteilers erstrecken; und / oder
• zweite Rücklaufkanäle in Gestalt von - bezüglich ihrer Kanalquerschnitte - offenen Flüssigkeitskanälen, welche hydraulisch-anschlussseitig am Verteiler bzw. im Bereich seiner hydraulisch-anschlussseitigen Stirnseite und über dessen Umfang verteilt in Gestalt von Längsnuten - d.h. in Längsrichtung der Verteilers ausgerichtete Nuten - angeordnet sind.

The fluid intake and fluid management agents also include:

• first return channels in the form of - with respect to their channel cross sections - closed liquid channels, which are arranged in the distributor and distributed over its circumference and extend between two end faces of the distributor; and or
• second return channels in the form of - with respect to their channel cross sections - open liquid channels, which are arranged on the hydraulic connection side of the distributor or in the area of its hydraulic connection side end face and distributed over its circumference in the form of longitudinal grooves - that is, grooves aligned in the longitudinal direction of the distributor.

A liquid distribution actuator is also proposed, which comprises a distribution device or distribution device of the type described above and an electric motor for driving the rotatable distributor of the distribution device.

The actuator can also include a control unit as an integral part within a housing section of the actuator for controlling at least the electric motor.

The control unit can be arranged at the electrical connection end of the actuator. It is proposed to arrange the control unit and the electric motor in a common housing section of the actuator.

The control unit can also be designed to control an associated liquid feed pump, which as such is fluidly connected to the actuator.

A cleaning device or a cleaning system for a vehicle for cleaning a large number of cleaning points on the vehicle is also proposed, the cleaning device or the cleaning system being at least comprises a liquid distribution actuator of the type previously described.

In addition, a vehicle with a cleaning device of the type described above is also proposed.

A vehicle is understood to mean any type of vehicle that is operated either by an internal combustion engine and/or by an electric motor, but in particular passenger cars and/or commercial vehicles. These are preferably semi-autonomous and in particular fully autonomous vehicles.

Furthermore, a method for operating a distribution device or a liquid distribution actuator of the type described above is proposed, wherein before a rotational adjustment of the distributor into one of the defined positions for supplying liquid to a liquid path assigned to one of the cleaning points, a liquid pressure prevailing in the distribution device is lowered, for example by increasing the speed of rotation is correspondingly lowered or reduced by a liquid feed pump providing a liquid pressure source level.

• 1 einen vorgeschlagenen Flüssigkeitsverteilungsaktuator in einer ersten perspektivischen Ansicht,
• 2 den in 1 gezeigten Aktuator in einer zweiten perspektivischen Ansicht,
• 3 den in 1 und 2 gezeigten Aktuator in einer ersten Schnittansicht,
• 4 den in 1 und 2 gezeigten Aktuator in einer zweiten Schnittansicht (leicht perspektivisch),
• 5 den in 1 und 2 gezeigten Aktuator in einer perspektivischen Explosionsansicht,
• 6 eine Schnittabschnitt durch den in den vorhergehenden Figuren gezeigten Verteilungsabschnitt des Aktuators sowie
• 7 eine perspektivische Ansicht des in der 3 und 4 gezeigten Verteilers.

The invention is further explained in detail with reference to figure representations. Further advantageous developments of the invention result from the subclaims and the following description of preferred embodiments. Show this:

• 1 a proposed liquid distribution actuator in a first perspective view,
• 2 the in 1 shown actuator in a second perspective view,
• 3 the in 1 and 2 actuator shown in a first sectional view,
• 4 the in 1 and 2 Actuator shown in a second sectional view (slightly in perspective),
• 5 the in 1 and 2 Actuator shown in a perspective exploded view,
• 6 a sectional section through the distribution section of the actuator shown in the previous figures and
• 7 a perspective view of the in the 3 and 4 distributor shown.

The proposed liquid distribution actuator 2 has the shape of a substantially cylindrical body with a first, hydraulic connection-side end 4, which has a plurality of hydraulic connections Az (Z = inlet), A _R (R = return), A _RSi , A _RSi+1 ... A _RSi+n (RS = cleaning point), as well as a second, electrical connection end 6 with a connection socket B.

The actuator 2 is divided into three parts and comprises a distribution device or a distribution section D, an electric motor or electric motor or drive section E driving this distribution device D, and a controller or control unit or a control section C for controlling the E -Motors E.

The distribution device D comprises a housing or a housing section 8, in which an electric motor-driven or drivable distributor 16 is rotatably accommodated, and also liquid receiving and liquid guiding means 18, 20, 22, 24i, 24i ₊₁ , ..., 24 _i+n , 26, 28. The distributor 16 can be rotated into individual, defined positions relative to the housing 8 in order to provide a liquid-pressurized inlet connection Az, optionally with one of several outlet connections A _RSi , A _RSi+1 , ..., A _{RSi + n} to fluidly connect, all of which are formed next to the inlet connection Az on the housing cover 12.

The inlet connection Az opens into a first - with respect to its channel cross section - closed inlet channel 18 in the housing projection V of the distribution device D, the inlet channel 18 extending in the longitudinal direction X - X of the distribution device D or the actuator 2.

This inlet channel 18 in turn opens into a second - with respect to its channel cross section - open liquid channel in the form of a closed circumferential annular groove 20, from which a third - with respect to its channel cross section - open liquid channel in the form of a longitudinal groove 22, which is transverse or, for example, orthogonal to the Annular groove 20 lies and also extends in the longitudinal direction X - X and in the direction of the hydraulic connection end 4.

With a corresponding rotational adjustment of the distributor 16, the longitudinal groove 22 can be fluidically connected to a plurality of fourth liquid channels A _RSi , A _RSi+1 ... A _RSi+n provided in the housing 8 - and closed with respect to their channel cross sections, each of which is one the drain connections A _RSi , A _RSi+1 ... A _RSi+n are assigned in order to supply individual cleaning points of a vehicle with pressurized fluid or cleaning fluid.

The housing section 8 has, on the one hand, a hydraulic connection side relative to the housing cover 12 and, on the other hand, an electrical connection side tig relative to the housing section 10 and a containment can ST - which extends into the drive section E - sufficiently sealed by means of O-rings. However, the distributor 16 itself is designed without a seal compared to the housing section 8. This advantageously contributes to reducing friction, especially since no seal counteracts the rotational movement of the distributor 16. Consequently, the energy required to operate the distributor 16 is as small as possible. The reduced friction also enables faster control of the distributor 16, ie shorter switching times for its rotational adjustment.

Therefore, the distribution section D is designed for liquid return into a tank. For this purpose, the distributor 16 comprises first return channels in the form of liquid channels 26 which are closed with respect to their channel cross sections - for example in the form of drilled channels or bores - which are arranged in the distributor 16 and distributed over the circumference and between the two end faces S _II , S _II , of the distributor 16 extend (see 3 ), as well as second return channels in the form of - with respect to their channel cross sections - open liquid channels in the form of longitudinal grooves 28, which are arranged on the hydraulic connection side on the distributor 18 or in the area of its end face S _I and distributed over its circumference. These longitudinal grooves 28 form slots which extend from the end face S _I into the distributor 16 (see 3 and 7 ).

The electric motor E, for example in the form of a brushless direct current motor, comprises a stator S with windings and an internal, wet-running rotor R with permanent magnets PM. An end of the distributor 16 facing the control section C carries these permanent magnets PM, which are arranged distributed over the circumference of this end, and thus forms the rotor R, which extends into the stator S. The rotor R extends into the containment can ST until just before its bottom. The containment pot ST separates a wet space of the rotor R from a dry space of the stator S.

The control C is located at the electrical connection end 6 and is an integral part of the actuator 2, being arranged adjacent to the electric motor E within a housing section 10, which the electric motor E and the control C have in common. A housing cover 14, on which the connection socket B is formed, closes this housing section 10 in a sufficiently sealing manner. The housing cover 14 also carries, for example, one of two printed circuit boards (PCBs = Printed Circuit Boards). The other circuit board, on the other hand, is accommodated by a further supporting structure within the housing section 10, which is arranged slightly spaced from the electric motor E. The housing section 10 is, for example, a sheet metal jacket which is connected to the housing section 8 and is clipped or crimped to it, for example. The housing section 8, on the other hand, like the distributor 16 and the two housing covers 12, 14, is preferably made or injection molded from a plastic.

In this exemplary embodiment, the control C serves both to control the electric motor E and to control a liquid feed pump - not shown here - which provides the pressurized liquid via the inlet connection A _Z.

The following describes how the proposed distribution mechanism works.

A feed pump connected to the inlet connection Az of the housing cover 12 via a line - not shown here - feeds the actuator 2 with a liquid and thereby generates a liquid delivery pressure of approximately 5 to 8 bar (the so-called pressure source level). The pumped liquid flows via the inlet connection Az into the inlet channel 18 in the housing section 8 and via this into the circumferential annular groove 20 and into the longitudinal groove 22. Depending on the orientation or rotational adjustment of the distributor 16, the liquid then flows through one of the liquid channels 24 _i , 24 _i+1 , ... 24 _i+n in the housing section 8 and the respectively assigned drain connection A _RSi , A _RSi+1 ... A _RSi+n on the housing cover 12 and in another - not shown here - to a cleaning point leading management. The volume flow provided by the feed pump is, for example, 200l/h.

It is proposed not to allow the liquid pressure in the actuator 2 to drop to 0 bar when the feed pump is de-energized. Rather, the liquid pressure is maintained at a minimum pressure level (0 <p <po), for example slightly below 2bar (po = 2bar). To make this possible, spring-loaded locking bodies that function as valves are provided on the actuator 2 on the hydraulic connection side. Between the individual drain connections A _RSi , A _RSi+1 ... A _Rsi+n and the respectively assigned liquid channel 24 _i , 24 _i+1 ,... 24 _i+n there is such a blocking body, for example in the form of a spring-loaded valve plate or a spring-loaded valve disk, which shuts off the outlet of the associated liquid channel 24 _i , 24 _{i + 1} , ... 24 _{i + n} in a sufficiently sealing or liquid-tight manner, provided that the valve plate or the valve disk does not have a liquid pressure greater than or equal to the said minimum pressure of, for example, p = 2bar is beaten. These blocking bodies or valves also prevent the cleaning paths from being emptied into the tank via the drain connection A _R (R = return).

In the energized state of the feed pump, however, the liquid pressure present in the liquid channel 24 _i , 24 _i+1 , ... 24 _i+n , which is controlled via the longitudinal groove 22, is so great that the compression spring of the associated locking body is overcome, so that the liquid can drain or flow through. On the other hand, the liquid pressure present in the other - non-controlled channels - is below the said minimum pressure of, for example, p = 2bar. The liquid therefore only flows via the liquid channel 24 _i , 24 _i+1 , ... 24 _i+n, which is actually controlled via the longitudinal groove 22, as well as the assigned cleaning path (not shown) to the assigned cleaning point (not shown).

This proposed distribution mechanism is combined with a return mechanism, via which part of the pumped liquid is returned to a tank - not shown here - and made available for renewed pumping by means of the feed pump.

Liquid conveyed into the annular groove 20 and the longitudinal groove 22 partly flows into the intermediate space or gap or radial gap which the distributor 16 forms with the housing section 8 on the radial circumference.

This overflowing part of the liquid flows, on the one hand, into the wet space of the rotor R, which is therefore surrounded and cooled by liquid, and, on the other hand, into the collecting space in the area of the hydraulic connection-side end of the distributor 16, which its front side S _I also delimits or ., and from there back into the said tank.

The liquid flowing from the circumferential annular groove 20 into the radial gap reaches, on the one hand, the wet space of the rotor R, which the end face S _II of the distributor 16 also delimits or forms, and, on the other hand, to the said collecting space, which - as I said - the end face S _I of the distributor 16 is delimited or formed.

The liquid flowing from the longitudinal groove 22 into the radial gap, on the other hand, flows in particular at the transition point of the longitudinal groove 22 to one of the liquid channels 24 _i , 24 _i+1 , ... 24 _i+n up to the collecting space. However, liquid also flows from the longitudinal groove 22 in the circumferential direction of the distributor 16, ie both clockwise and counterclockwise into the radial gap.

During operation of the distribution device D, the distributor 16 is thus surrounded or flowed around by pumped liquid on both the radial circumference and the front side and is thereby spaced from the periphery surrounding it. The periphery includes the housing 8 and the drive section E or the containment shell ST extending into the drive section E, in which the rotor R is surrounded by liquid and is spaced apart from the containment shell ST (cf. 3 ).

The contiguous space filled with pumped liquid between the distributor 16 and its periphery is fluidly connected to the return connection A _R of the distribution device D.

At the bottom of the annular groove 20 and the longitudinal groove 22 there is said liquid source pressure (pressure source level = 5 to 8 bar), which the feed pump generates. The liquid pressure in the previously described overflowing part of the liquid is subject to various pressure gradients and, towards the return connection A _R , equalizes the tank pressure level in which, for example, there is an ambient pressure.

The individual longitudinal grooves 28 in the area of the end face S _I support the drainage of the liquid into the said collecting space, via which it flows via a return channel formed, for example, in the middle of the housing cover 12 or the drain connection A _R (R = return) which has this return channel and via a line adjoining it - not shown here - flows back into the tank in question.

From the wet space of the rotor, however, the liquid flows through the individual liquid channels 26 into the said collecting space and from there - as previously described - via the drain connection A _R (R = return) back into the said tank.

The distributor 16 only has to overcome dry friction when the actuator 2 starts up. After that it only works against fluid friction.

To operate the actuator 2, it is proposed to temporarily reduce the liquid pressure provided by the feed pump, ie before rotating the distributor 16 into one of the desired or defined positions, to a lower pressure level of 0 <p <p _Q (Q = source level or pressure source level). - for example by reducing the speed of the feed pump accordingly (ie speed-controlled). This advantageously allows higher adjustment speeds of the distributor 16 to be achieved.

Although exemplary embodiments are explained in the preceding description, it should be noted that a variety of modifications are possible. It should also be noted that the exemplary statements are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of protection, applications and structure in any way. Rather, the preceding description provides the person skilled in the art with a guideline for the implementation of at least one exemplary embodiment, whereby various changes, in particular with regard to the function and arrangement of the components described, can be made without leaving the scope of protection, as it appears the claims and combinations of features equivalent to them.

Claims (13)

Distribution device for supplying individual cleaning points of a vehicle with a pressurized liquid, the distribution device (D) having a housing (8) with a distributor (16) arranged therein that can be driven by an electric motor and also liquid receiving and liquid guiding means (18, 20, 22, 26, 28 ), wherein the distributor (16) is rotatably adjustable in defined positions relative to the housing (8), in which a liquid-pressurized inlet connection (Az) with one of several outlet connections (A _RSi , A _RSi+1 ... A _RSi+n ) is fluidically connected to supply an assigned cleaning point, the distributor (16), which is essentially cylindrical, supplying the liquid, depending on the rotational adjustment, via liquid receiving and liquid guiding means on the radial circumference to one of the drain connections (A _RSi , A _RSi+1 . .. A _RSi+n ), wherein the distribution device (D) is designed for a liquid return to a tank, for this purpose a conveyed during operation of the distribution device (D) between the distributor (16) and the housing (8). Liquid-filled, contiguous space is fluidly connected to a return connection ( _AR ) of the distribution device (D), characterized in that the liquid receiving and liquid guiding means comprise first return channels in the form of - with respect to their channel cross sections - closed liquid channels (26), which are in the distributor (16) and are arranged distributed over its circumference and extend between two end faces (S _I , S _II ) of the distributor (16) and / or second return channels in the form of - with respect to their channel cross sections - open liquid channels, which are on the hydraulic connection side of the distributor (18) and are arranged distributed over its circumference in the form of longitudinal grooves (28). distribution facility Claim 1 , wherein the distributor (16) is designed to be seal-free relative to the housing (8). Distribution device according to one of the Claims 1 or 2 , wherein during operation of the distribution device (D), the distributor (16) forms a defined radial gap on the radial circumference with an assigned housing section (8), via which pumped liquid spreads in the housing (8) and over the distributor (16) and thereby on the radial circumference between the Distributor (16) and the housing section (8) forms a liquid leakage film, which distances the distributor (16) from the housing section (8). Distribution device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the liquid receiving and liquid guiding means comprise: a first liquid channel (18) provided in the housing (8) - which is closed with respect to its channel cross section and which is fluidly connected to the inlet connection (A _z ); a second liquid channel provided on the distributor (16) - with respect to its channel cross section - open in the form of an annular groove (20), into which the first liquid channel (18) opens; a third liquid channel provided on the distributor (16) - with respect to its channel cross section - open in the form of a longitudinal groove (22) which lies transversely to the annular groove (20) and extends from it; as well as a large number of further fourth liquid channels (24j, 24 _i+1 , ... 24 _i+n ), which are provided in the housing (8) and are closed with regard to their channel cross sections, each of which is connected to one of the drain connections (A _RSi , A _{RSi +1} ... A _RSi+n ) are fluidly connected and can be fluidly connected to the longitudinal groove (20) as a result of a corresponding rotational adjustment of the distributor (16). Fluid distribution actuator comprising: a distribution device (D; D = distribution device) according to one of the preceding claims and an electric motor (E) for driving the rotatable distributor (16) of the distribution device (D). Fluid distribution actuator after Claim 5 , wherein the actuator (2) also comprises a control unit (C) as an integral part within a housing section (10) of the actuator (2) for controlling at least the electric motor (E). Fluid distribution actuator after Claim 6 , wherein the control unit (C) is arranged at an electrical connection end (6) of the actuator (2). Fluid distribution actuator after Claim 6 or 7 , wherein the control unit (C) and the electric motor (E) are arranged in the common housing section (10) of the actuator (2). Liquid distribution actuator according to one of the Claims 6 until 8th , wherein the control unit (C) is also designed to control an associated liquid feed pump. Cleaning device for a vehicle for cleaning a plurality of cleaning points on the vehicle, the cleaning device having at least one liquid distribution actuator according to one of the Claims 5 until 9 includes. Vehicle with a cleaning device Claim 10 . Method for operating a distribution device according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 or a liquid distribution actuator according to one of the Claims 5 until 9 , wherein before a rotational adjustment of the distributor (16) into one of the defined positions for liquid supply to a liquid path assigned to one of the cleaning points, a liquid pressure prevailing in the distribution device (D) is reduced. Procedure according to Claim 12 , wherein the pressure reduction is effected by lowering a rotational speed of a liquid feed pump providing a liquid pressure source level.

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