Compression device and sensor cleaning system including the same

Abstract

A sensor cleaning system for a hydrogen vehicle, the hydrogen vehicle comprising hydrogen as a fuel, the sensor cleaning system comprising: a compression device configured to be operated by a flow of hydrogen; and one or more nozzles configured to eject the compressed fluid generated by the compression device onto the sensor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a sensor cleaning system, and more particularly to a sensor cleaning system for a hydrogen vehicle. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, vehicles are equipped with driver assistance systems that assist vehicle drivers in ensuring safe driving in various driving situations. In addition to driver assistance systems, research and development of autonomous vehicles that can drive themselves without driver intervention are actively underway.

[0003] A variety of environmental sensors that can detect the surrounding environment in various ways are installed in the driver assistance systems of vehicles and autonomous vehicles. The environmental sensors installed on the vehicle include radio detection and ranging (radar) sensors, light detection and ranging (lidar) sensors, and cameras.

[0004] Since these sensors are installed outside the vehicle, the sensing area may easily get dirty due to foreign substances such as dust, rain, or snow. To maintain sensor performance, since these sensors should be kept cleaner than a specific level, the vehicle is equipped with a sensor cleaning system that can clean the sensors when the sensing area is contaminated. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems related to the prior art.

[0006] In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a compression device that can always generate an air curtain on the environmental sensors of a hydrogen vehicle.

[0007] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a sensor cleaning system including a compression device.

[0008] The object of the present disclosure is not limited to the above objects, and other objects of the present disclosure that are not described can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains from the following description.

[0009] The features of the present disclosure for achieving the above objects of the present disclosure and performing its characteristic functions to be described below are as follows.

[0010] In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a sensor cleaning system that is a sensor cleaning system for a hydrogen vehicle including hydrogen as a fuel, and includes a compression device and one or more nozzles. The compression device is configured to operate by the flow of hydrogen, and the one or more nozzles are configured to eject the compressed fluid generated by the compression device onto the sensor.

[0011] According to some embodiments, a hydrogen vehicle includes a sensor cleaning system that includes: a compression device disposed on a pipeline through which hydrogen is supplied from a hydrogen tank to a fuel cell stack or a hydrogen engine, and the compression device is configured to generate a compressed fluid by the flow of hydrogen; and one or more nozzles configured to inject the compressed fluid onto a sensor.

[0012] Other aspects and preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are described below.

[0013] It should be understood that as used herein, the term "vehicle" or "vehicular" or other similar terms include motor vehicles in a broad sense, such as passenger cars (including sport utility vehicles (SUVs), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles), watercraft (including various boats and ships), airplanes, etc., and include hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles, and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., fuels derived from resources other than petroleum). As mentioned herein, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle having two or more power sources, e.g., a gasoline-powered vehicle and an electric vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The above and other features of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to certain exemplary embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings, which are given hereinafter by way of illustration only and thus do not limit the present disclosure, and in which:

[0015] Figure 1 is an exemplary block diagram showing the sensor cleaning system;

[0016] Figure 2 is a view showing a vehicle including the sensor cleaning system;

[0017] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the sensor cleaning system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0018] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the sensor cleaning system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0019] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a compression device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0020] Figure 6 is showing Figure 5 a view of the operation process of the compression device.

[0021] It should be understood that the accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and present a somewhat simplified representation of various preferred features illustrating the basic principles of the present disclosure. Specific design features of the present disclosure as disclosed herein (including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, positions, and shapes) will be determined in part by the specific intended application and the usage environment.

[0022] In the drawings, the same reference numerals throughout several views of the drawings refer to the same or equivalent components of the present disclosure. Detailed Description

[0023] The specific structural or functional descriptions presented in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only examples for describing the embodiments according to the concept of the present disclosure, and the embodiments according to the concept of the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms. In addition, the embodiments should not be construed as limiting the present disclosure to the specific embodiments, and should be interpreted as including variations, equivalents, or alternatives within the spirit and technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0024] Meanwhile, terms such as first and second in the present disclosure can be used to describe multiple components, but these components are not limited by these terms. These terms can be used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another, and for example, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, the first component can be referred to as the second component, and similarly, the second component can also be referred to as the first component.

[0025] When a component is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another component, the component can be directly connected or coupled to the other component. However, it should be understood that there may be other components between the component and the other component. In contrast, when a component is referred to as being "directly connected to" or "in direct contact with" another component, it should be understood that there may not be other components between the component and the other component. Other expressions describing the relationship between components (i.e., "between" and "directly between" or "adjacent to" and "directly adjacent to") should also be interpreted as described above.

[0026] Throughout this specification, the same reference numerals represent the same components. Meanwhile, the terms used herein are for the purpose of describing the embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms also include the plural forms. It should be noted that the terms "comprising" and / or "including" as used herein do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other components, steps, operations, and / or elements in addition to the stated components, steps, operations, and / or elements.

[0027] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] As described above, in order to maintain the performance of the environmental sensor for detecting the vehicle's surrounding environment, it is necessary to regularly clean the sensor surface. For example, the environmental sensor may be contaminated by solids such as dust and sand, and may be contaminated by liquids such as raindrops or snow during precipitation.

[0029] Specifically, in an active autonomous vehicle, the vehicle drives based on information about the surrounding environment such as traffic lights, pedestrians, road types, buildings, and surrounding vehicles identified by the environmental sensor. When the surface of the environmental sensor is contaminated, it becomes impossible to recognize the surrounding environment, and active autonomous driving becomes impossible. Therefore, the vehicle's sensor cleaning system performs an important function of enabling driving by assisting the environmental sensor to clearly perceive the surrounding environment without distortion and removing contaminants from the sensor surface.

[0030] These environmental sensors can be cleaned using a cleaning liquid or high-pressure air. In the former case, a cleaning liquid can be used to clean the environmental sensor, and the moisture on the sensor surface can be removed by air injection. In the latter case, foreign objects on the sensor surface are removed by only injecting high-pressure air. In addition, there is a cleaning method that uses a combination of a cleaning liquid and high-pressure air.

[0031] Reference will be made to Figure 1 and Figure 2 to describe the latter air-cleaning type sensor cleaning system, which cleans the environmental sensor by injecting compressed air. The sensor cleaning system 1 is configured to use compressed air to clean the environmental sensor. The sensor cleaning system 1 performs cleaning by injecting compressed air onto the surface of the environmental sensor 2. The environmental sensor 2 may include sensing devices such as a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensor, a Radio Detection and Ranging (RADAR) sensor, and a camera, and the environmental sensor may be provided at the front side FR, the rear side RR, the lateral side, and the roof R of the vehicle V.

[0032] Specifically, the air filtered by the air filter 4 provided in the vehicle is introduced into the compressor 6. The air compressed by the compressor 6 is injected onto the surface of the environmental sensor 2, so that foreign objects on the environmental sensor 2 are removed. Of course, the environmental sensor 2 includes a plurality of environmental sensors 2a, 2b, and 2c, and three environmental sensors are shown in the drawings and the specification, but the number of environmental sensors is not limited to this, and can be increased or decreased.

[0033] In addition, the sensor cleaning system 1 includes an air tank 8. The air tank 8 can be filled with air compressed by the compressor 6 or air compressed by an external device. The air filled in the air tank 8 can be used to clean the environmental sensor 2.

[0034] The controller 10 of the sensor cleaning system 1 is configured to operate the valve 12 (e.g., solenoid valve) at a preset interval or under preset conditions (such as when contamination of the ambient sensor 2 is detected). In this way, compressed air is sprayed from the compressor 6 or the air tank 8 towards the ambient sensor 2, thereby performing the cleaning of the ambient sensor 2. The distributor 14 is provided at or integrally formed with the valve 12. Thus, as Figure 2 shown, the compressed air can be distributively supplied to the ambient sensors 2a, 2b, 2c (collectively referred to as 2) through the nozzles 16a, 16b, 16c (collectively referred to as 16). As an example, the compressed air can also be a compressed fluid, such as a washing liquid.

[0035] When compressed air is continuously sprayed onto the ambient sensor 2 while the vehicle V is in motion, contamination of the ambient sensor 2 can be prevented. In this regard, the applicant of the present disclosure has filed Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0124919 (filing date: September 30, 2022) for a "sensor protection device" capable of providing an air curtain for the ambient sensor 2. However, due to limitations on the operating duration of the compressor 6 in the sensor cleaning system 1, it is impossible to continuously provide an air curtain on the ambient sensor 2. Therefore, currently, the sensor cleaning system 1 is controlled to perform air cleaning or form an air curtain only within a set time.

[0036] Therefore, according to the present disclosure, there is provided a compression device in a sensor cleaning system that can utilize the high pressure of a hydrogen tank wasted from a hydrogen vehicle, and a sensor cleaning system including the compression device.

[0037] As Figure 3 shown, the vehicle V can be a hydrogen vehicle. A hydrogen vehicle is a vehicle driven using hydrogen as fuel. The hydrogen vehicle can include a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle or a hydrogen engine vehicle. In a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, the fuel cell can generate electrical energy through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen as fuel and oxygen in the air. In a hydrogen engine vehicle, similar to an existing internal combustion engine vehicle, the vehicle can be driven by the explosive combustion of hydrogen and oxygen.

[0038] The hydrogen vehicle V includes a hydrogen tank 200. The hydrogen tank 200 stores hydrogen under high pressure. In addition, the vehicle V can include a fuel cell stack 220. The fuel cell stack 220 in the illustrated embodiment can be replaced with a hydrogen engine. However, hereinafter, a hydrogen vehicle including the fuel cell stack 220 is described. The hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen tank 200 can be supplied to the fuel cell stack 220, and electrical energy can be generated through the electrochemical reaction occurring in the fuel cell stack 220. For example, the generated electrical energy can be supplied to the motor of the vehicle V to drive the vehicle V.

[0039] The hydrogen in the hydrogen tank 200 is supplied to the fuel cell stack 220 (as in the illustrated embodiment) through a hydrogen supply pipeline or injected into a hydrogen internal combustion engine. When hydrogen is used in the fuel cell stack 220 or the hydrogen internal combustion engine, the pressure of the hydrogen in a high-pressure state of several hundred bars is reduced to the pressure of the usage environment (e.g., 16 bar, 36 bar, etc.). In other words, when hydrogen is supplied, the pressure is lost in the pressure regulator of the hydrogen supply pipeline.

[0040] According to the present disclosure, while the vehicle V is traveling, the pressure wasted during the hydrogen decompression process can be used as a pressure source to continuously drive the compressor of the sensor cleaning system 1. Thus, a compressed fluid (such as compressed air or washing liquid) is continuously sprayed onto the environmental sensor 2, so that an air curtain can be formed. In some embodiments, as Figure 4 shown, in the sensor cleaning system 1 according to the present disclosure, the compressor 6 provided in the sensor cleaning system can be omitted.

[0041] The sensor cleaning system according to the present disclosure includes a compression device 100 that is configured to direct the wasted pressure to the sensor cleaning system 1. In one embodiment, the compression device 100 can be a turbocharger compressor.

[0042] As Figure 5 shown, the compression device 100 is connected to a hydrogen supply pipeline that fluidly connects the hydrogen tank 200 and the fuel cell stack 220. In one embodiment, the compression device 100 includes a hydrogen channel 110. The hydrogen channel 110 includes a hydrogen inlet 112 and a hydrogen outlet 114. Hydrogen in a high-pressure state is introduced through the hydrogen inlet, and the hydrogen that is decompressed when flowing through the hydrogen channel 110 is discharged through the hydrogen outlet. The hydrogen inlet 112 can be fluidly connected to the hydrogen tank 200, and the hydrogen outlet 114 can be fluidly connected to the fuel cell stack 220.

[0043] The compression device 100 includes a turbine 120 and a camshaft 130. The turbine 120 can receive rotational energy from the flow of hydrogen flowing through the hydrogen channel 110 to rotate the camshaft 130.

[0044] The compression device 100 is operably connected to a compressor 140. Due to the rotation of the camshaft 130, the compressor 140 can suck in air and compress the sucked-in air. The compressor 140 can suck air into the compressor 140 through an air inlet 180 and discharge the compressed air through an air outlet 170. The positions and shapes of the air inlet 180 or the air outlet 170 are not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and the air inlet 180 or the air outlet 170 can be provided at different positions or can have different shapes. In one embodiment, the compressor 140 includes a piston 150 and a spring 160.

[0045] As shown Figure 6 in FIG., piston 150 is connected to camshaft 130 to perform a reciprocating motion through camshaft 130. Spring 160 is installed at piston 150.

[0046] When camshaft 130 rotates and moves to the first position, piston 150 is pressed and thus spring 160 is compressed. When camshaft 130 rotates and moves from the first position to the second position, the pressing force on piston 150 is removed, allowing spring 160 to return to its initial position. As the stroke of piston 150 is repeated, compressor 140 generates compressed air. The generated compressed air can be guided to sensor cleaning system 1 through air outlet 170. For example, the generated compressed air can be stored in air tank 8 of sensor cleaning system 1. In one embodiment, the generated compressed air can be guided to ambient sensor 2.

[0047] In this way, while vehicle V is traveling, compressed air can be continuously sprayed onto ambient sensor 2 of sensor cleaning system 1. In other words, the cleaning of ambient sensor 2 can be performed by compression device 100, and a high-pressure air curtain can be continuously generated on ambient sensor 2.

[0048] According to the present disclosure, the high-pressure air curtain or high-pressure air cleaning and / or washing liquid cleaning can be continuously operated by driving the piston of the compression device using the high-pressure hydrogen wasted in a hydrogen vehicle without a separate energy supply.

[0049] According to the present disclosure, even in any adverse weather conditions and without compressor operation constraints, the contamination of the ambient sensor can be completely prevented by continuously operating the air cleaning and / or washing liquid cleaning. Ultimately, the marketability of the autonomous vehicle can be maximized.

[0050] In addition, according to the present disclosure, the compressor of the sensor cleaning system can be driven without power supply, thereby improving the electrical efficiency of the vehicle.

[0051] In addition, according to the present disclosure, by omitting the compressor provided for the sensor cleaning system and / or the compressor for the washing liquid cleaning, the manufacturing cost and weight can be significantly reduced.

[0052] According to the present disclosure, a compression device capable of continuously forming an air curtain is provided for the ambient sensor of a hydrogen vehicle, so that the ambient sensor can always be kept in a clean state.

[0053] In addition, according to the present disclosure, a sensor cleaning system including a compression device can be provided.

[0054] According to the present disclosure, the weight and production cost of a hydrogen vehicle can be reduced by including a sensor cleaning system.

[0055] It should be noted that the effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above effects, and those skilled in the art can clearly understand other effects of the present disclosure not mentioned above from the above description.

[0056] It should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments and drawings, and those skilled in the art can design various substitutions, variations, and changes without departing from the technical spirit of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A sensor cleaning system for a hydrogen vehicle, the hydrogen vehicle using hydrogen as fuel, the sensor cleaning system comprising: a compression device configured to operate by a flow of hydrogen gas; as well as One or more nozzles are configured to spray the compressed fluid produced by the compression device onto the sensor.

2. The sensor cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein: The compression device comprises: a turbine configured to be rotated by the flow of hydrogen; a camshaft rotatably connected to the turbine; and A compressor is configured to generate the compressed fluid through the rotation of the camshaft.

3. The sensor cleaning system according to claim 2, wherein: The compressor comprises: a piston capable of being pressed by the camshaft; and A spring is mounted on the piston and is compressed or expanded by the movement of the piston.

4. The sensor cleaning system according to claim 2, wherein: The compression device further includes a hydrogen passage through which the hydrogen rotated by the turbine flows.

5. The sensor cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein: The hydrogen vehicle includes a fuel cell stack or a hydrogen engine.

6. The sensor cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein: The sensor includes a laser detection and ranging sensor, a radio detection and ranging sensor or a camera arranged in the hydrogen vehicle.

7. The sensor cleaning system of claim 1, wherein: The compressed fluid is compressed air or washing liquid.

8. A hydrogen vehicle including a sensor cleaning system, the hydrogen vehicle comprising: a compression device disposed on a pipeline through which hydrogen is supplied from a hydrogen tank to a fuel cell stack or a hydrogen engine, and configured to generate a compressed fluid by the flow of the hydrogen; as well as One or more nozzles are configured to spray the compressed fluid onto the sensor.

9. The hydrogen vehicle according to claim 8, wherein: The sensor cleaning system comprises: a fluid tank configured to store the generated compressed fluid, and the fluid tank is connected to the one or more nozzles; an openable valve configured to allow or prevent the flow of the compressed fluid from the fluid tank to the one or more nozzles; and A controller is configured to control the opening and closing of the valve.

10. The hydrogen vehicle according to claim 8, wherein: The compression device comprises: a turbine configured to be rotated by the flow of hydrogen; a camshaft rotatably connected to the turbine; and A compressor is configured to generate the compressed fluid through the rotation of the camshaft.

11. The hydrogen vehicle according to claim 8, wherein: The sensor cleaning system does not include a separate compressor other than the compression device.

Images