Pressurized fluid system for cleaning sensor

Abstract

A method for cleaning a sensor surface on a vehicle includes operating at least one actuator coupled to at least one nozzle, the at least one actuator for controlling flow of pressurized cleaning fluid from a pressurized reservoir to flow the pressurized cleaning fluid to at least one spray nozzle, a pressurized cleaning fluid is dispensed from the at least one spray nozzle toward the sensor surface, and the at least one actuator is operated to a closed position and a flow of the pressurized cleaning fluid to the at least one spray nozzle is reduced.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0001] The present subject matter generally relates to vehicle sensor cleaning systems and methods of using vehicle sensor cleaning systems. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a pressurized fluid system and associated methods that use a spray nozzle and a pressurized reservoir positioned adjacent to the spray nozzle that provides pressurized fluid to the spray nozzle at sufficient pressure and volume without a secondary pump or booster pump.

[0002] In conventional vehicle washer / wiper systems, washer fluid and a wiper work together to clean contaminants from a sensor surface associated with, for example, a windshield or headlamp. The washer fluid is sprayed onto the sensor surface to moisten the sensor surface and soften the contaminants for removal from the sensor surface. The wiper repeatedly wipes the sensor surface to remove the softened contaminants.

[0003] Conventional vehicle sensor cleaning systems typically direct a jet of washer fluid onto the sensor surface and then direct compressed air onto the sensor surface to dry the sensor surface. The cleaning system typically utilizes a single pump to supply the spray nozzle. The cleaning system typically includes a plurality of nozzles corresponding to a plurality of sensors disposed on a vehicle.

[0004] Current vehicle technologies, particularly with the rise of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving systems (ADS), incorporate several and various sensors, including camera sensors, LIDAR sensors, and other sensors each having a sensor surface. Each sensor surface is cleaned to reduce fouling and other contaminants that obstruct the view of the sensor. Some of these sensors are at risk of reduced sensor performance if cleaned with conventional cleaning systems.

[0005] In addition, conventional sensor cleaning systems may not be equipped to provide washer fluid to multiple spray nozzles because a single pump may not be able to overcome the fluid pressure drop caused by multiple spray nozzles, resulting in poor cleaning system performance. As a reference, an example of a conventional sensor cleaning system 50 is shown in FIG. 1. As shown, the washer fluid is stored in a washer fluid storage device 52 that is remote from the spray nozzles 54. A main pump 56 directs the washer fluid through a conduit 57 to the spray nozzles 54. A secondary pump 58, which is disposed on the conduit downstream of the main pump 56 and adjacent to the spray nozzles 54, increases the pressure within the conduit 57 and directs the washer fluid to a fluid control valve 60 that controls the volume and pressure of the washer fluid supplied to the spray nozzles 54. The spray nozzles 54 direct the spray of washer fluid 62 onto the sensor surface 64. Once a sufficient amount of the washer fluid spray 62 has been sprayed onto the sensor surface 64, a compressed air nozzle 66 directs compressed air 68 onto the sensor surface 64 to accelerate the drying of the sensor surface 62.

[0006] To address multiple sensors, conventional cleaning systems include additional pumps to address different spray nozzle 54 locations and / or areas. The main pump 56, which is operatively connected to the conduit 57, is combined with the secondary pump 58 that is arranged adjacent to the spray nozzles 54. As shown in FIG. 1, the secondary pump 58 is disposed between the main pump 54 and the spray nozzles 54 to overcome the pressure loss along the conduit 57 and increase the fluid pressure near the spray nozzles 54. Using additional components for a conventional cleaning system may result in an increase in the maintenance and cleaning system costs.

[0007] Accordingly, there is a need for a pressurized cleaning fluid system and associated method that provides pressurized cleaning fluid to a spray nozzle without a secondary pump. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An embodiment of a method for cleaning a sensor surface on a vehicle includes: operating at least one actuator that is coupled to at least one nozzle, the at least one actuator for controlling the flow of pressurized cleaning fluid from a pressurized reservoir to flow the pressurized cleaning fluid to the at least one spray nozzle, dispensing the pressurized cleaning fluid from the at least one spray nozzle toward the sensor surface, and operating the at least one actuator to a closed position and reducing the flow of the pressurized cleaning fluid to the at least one spray nozzle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a prior art vehicle sensor cleaning system; and

[0010] Figure 2 is a schematic view of a vehicle sensor cleaning system that includes a pressurized reservoir described herein. Detailed implementation mode

[0011] Figure 2 Shown is a pressurized fluid system 100 for cleaning sensor surfaces 102a, 102b of a surface 102. The vehicle sensor cleaning system 100 can be located on any vehicle, such as a truck, a semi-trailer tractor, a bus, an automobile, etc. The pressurized fluid system 100 includes a pressurized reservoir 104, which is located proximal or near injection nozzles 106a and 106b, without using a secondary pump or a booster pump (which are common components in conventional vehicle sensor cleaning systems). In Figure 2 the illustrated embodiment, the pressurized fluid system 100 includes a main reservoir 108 (such as a tank, etc.) disposed on the vehicle, and a pump 110 disposed on the vehicle and distal to injection nozzles 106a and 106b, while the pressurized reservoir 104 is disposed on the vehicle and proximal to injection nozzles 106a and 106b.

[0012] As Figure 2 shown, the pressurized fluid system 100 can include one or more injection nozzles 106. Although in some embodiments, the pressurized fluid system 100 includes only a single injection nozzle 106, the pressurized fluid system 100 can accommodate multiple injection nozzles 106, and the multiple injection nozzles 106 are effectively and efficiently operated for cleaning separately or simultaneously. By providing the pressurized reservoir 104 near multiple sensor surfaces 102 including multiple injection nozzles 106, the pressurized reservoir 104 enables the pressurized fluid system 100 to simultaneously operate multiple injection nozzles 102 to dispense a sufficient volume of pressurized cleaning fluid 107.

[0013] Referring to Figure 2 , the pressurized fluid system 100 includes an actuator 112, and the actuator 112 is operatively connected to each injection nozzle 106 connected to the pressurized reservoir 104 to control the flow of the pressurized cleaning fluid 107 from the pressurized reservoir 104 to the injection nozzle 102 during the cleaning cycle. In some embodiments, the actuator 112 can be a valve. The cleaning cycle starts when the actuator 112 is actuated or operated to an open position, and ends when the actuator 112 is actuated or operated to a closed position. When the actuator 112 is operated, the pressurized cleaning fluid 107 is dispensed from the injection nozzle 106.

[0014] In some embodiments, compressed air 114b is added to the flow of the pressurized cleaning fluid 107 from the injection nozzle 106b to generate a charged pressurized cleaning fluid 107b. As Figure 2As shown, compressed air 114b is added to the pressurized cleaning fluid 107 between the actuator 112 and the injection nozzle 106b to increase the pressure of the cleaning fluid dispensed from the injection nozzle 106b onto the sensor surface 102b. By using the actuator 116b associated with the compressed air source 114b and the actuator 112 operatively associated with the pressurized reservoir 104, it is possible to time and coordinate the pressure filling of the pressurized cleaning fluid before it reaches the injection nozzle 106b.

[0015] The pressure of the charged pressurized fluid 107b is greater than the pressure of the pressurized reservoir 104. Using the compressed air source 114b, the pressure of the charged pressurized cleaning fluid 107b dispensed from the injection nozzle 106b is greater than the pressure of the pressurized reservoir 104. In the absence of the use of compressed air 114b, the pressure of the pressurized cleaning fluid dispensed from the injection nozzle 106b corresponds to the pressure of the pressurized reservoir 104.

[0016] In some embodiments, compressed air may be added directly to at least one of the actuator 112a and the actuator 112b, and the pipe 57 through which the fluid flows between the actuator 112a and the injection nozzle 106a, and between the actuator 112b and the injection nozzle 106b. Further, although the illustrated embodiments include a separate source of compressed air 114 for each injection nozzle 106, a single source of compressed air 114 may supply compressed air to multiple injection nozzles 106.

[0017] If one or more of the actuators 112 are held in the open position, the pressure in the pressurized reservoir 104 and the pressure of the pressurized cleaning fluid 107 dispensed from the injection nozzle 106 may be reduced until the pressure in the pressurized reservoir 104 reaches the pressure output of the pump 110 adjacent to the main reservoir 108. To increase the pressure within the pressurized reservoir 104, at least one actuator 112 is actuated to the closed position while the pump 110 continues to pump fluid into the pressurized reservoir 104.

[0018] A pressure sensor 118 disposed on the pressurized reservoir 104 monitors the pressure of the pressurized reservoir 104. The pump 110 is in communication with the pressure sensor 118 and is started and stopped according to the pressure of the pressurized reservoir 104. The pressure sensor 118 includes a pressure sensor controller that stores the on - pressure threshold and the off - pressure threshold of the pressurized reservoir 104. When the pressure of the pressurized reservoir 104 drops below the on - pressure threshold, the pressure sensor 118 starts the pump 110, and when the pressure of the pressurized reservoir 104 reaches the off - pressure threshold, the pressure sensor 118 stops the pump 110.

[0019] The on-pressure threshold and the off-pressure threshold can be based on the pressure fluctuations caused by the cleaning cycle of the injection nozzle 106. When the actuator 112 of the injection nozzle 106 is operated, fluid is released from the pressurized reservoir 104 to the injection nozzle 106 and dispensed from the injection nozzle 106, causing the pressure in the pressurized reservoir 104 to decrease. The pressure in the pressurized reservoir 104 continues to decrease as the injection nozzle 106 continues to dispense fluid during the cleaning cycle.

[0020] In one example, the on-pressure threshold that triggers the activation of the pump 110 corresponds to the minimum pressure of the pressurized reservoir 104 for effective cleaning, and the off-pressure that triggers the deactivation of the pump 110 corresponds to the maximum pressure of the pressurized reservoir 104. In another example, the on-pressure threshold that triggers the activation of the pump 110 can correspond to the pressure in the pressurized reservoir 104 at the end of the cleaning cycle, and the off-pressure threshold that triggers the deactivation of the pump 110 can correspond to the pressure in the pressurized reservoir 104 before the start of the cleaning cycle. In other examples, the pressurized fluid system 100 operates multiple cleaning cycles of the injection nozzle 106 between reaching the on-pressure threshold and reaching the off-pressure threshold.

[0021] The pressure of the pressurized reservoir 104, including the minimum pressure and the maximum pressure, depends on the type of sensor to be cleaned and the specifications of the components of the pressurized fluid cleaning system 100, such components including but not limited to the (one or more) injection nozzles 106, the actuator 112, the pump 110, and the pressurized reservoir 104. The distances between the main reservoir 108, the pressurized reservoir 104, and the injection nozzle 106 depend on the type of sensor to be cleaned and the system designed around the location of the sensor.

[0022] The pressurized fluid system 100 enhances the cleaning cycle, repeating the cleaning cycle until it is determined that the sensor is sufficiently cleaned or the sensor cannot be sufficiently cleaned. The cleaning cycle parameters can vary depending on the sensor location, the sensor type, the pressurized cleaning fluid injection duration, the pressurized air duration, and the number of cycles. For example, the cleaning cycle for a camera located on the roof of a vehicle can have different parameters than the cleaning cycle for a radar sensor located in the bumper of the vehicle, or the parameters for the first cleaning cycle attempt for one sensor can be different from the third cleaning cycle.

[0023] In some embodiments, a check valve 120 is provided on the pipe 57 at the pressurized reservoir 104 to reduce the backflow of the pressurized cleaning fluid 107 towards the pump 110.

[0024] Further, the actuator 112 can be actuated using any suitable method, such as an electric method, a pneumatic method, a hydraulic method, and any combination of these methods. The pressurized fluid system 100 can also include sensors and / or timers for triggering the actuator(s) based on the amount of debris detected on the sensor surface 102, the regular cleaning frequency of the sensor surface 102, manual operation, or any other suitable condition.

[0025] In some embodiments, after a sufficient amount of pressurized cleaning fluid 107a and pressurized cleaning fluid 107b have been sprayed onto the sensor surface 102a and the sensor surface 102b, the compressed air nozzles 122a and 122b direct compressed air 124a and compressed air 124b onto the sensor surface 102a and the sensor surface 102b, respectively, to accelerate the drying of the sensor surface 102a and the sensor surface 102b. Although the illustrated embodiment includes a compressed air nozzle 122a for the spray nozzle 106a and a compressed air nozzle 122b for the spray nozzle 106b, one or more compressed air nozzles 122 can be used for any number of spray nozzles 106 as needed or desired.

[0026] A method of using the pressurized fluid system 100 will now be described. A pressurized fluid system 100 is provided that includes: a main reservoir 108; a pressurized reservoir 104 located distal to the main reservoir 108; a pump 110 fluidly or pneumatically connected to the main reservoir 108 for directing pressurized cleaning fluid 107 from the main reservoir 108 to the pressurized reservoir 104; at least one spray nozzle 106 fluidly or pneumatically connected to the pressurized reservoir 104 and located proximal to the pressurized reservoir 104; and at least one actuator 112 coupled to the at least one spray nozzle 106 for controlling the pressurized cleaning fluid 107 from the pressurized reservoir 104 to the at least one spray nozzle 106. Each of the main reservoir 108, the pressurized reservoir 104, the pump 110, the at least one spray nozzle 106, and the at least one actuator 112 is disposed on a vehicle.

[0027] To clean the sensor surface 102, at least one actuator 112 is operated to move the actuator 112 to an open position such that the pressurized cleaning fluid 107 can flow from the pressurized reservoir 104 to the at least one spray nozzle 106. The pressurized cleaning fluid 07 is then dispensed from the spray nozzle 106 onto the sensor surface 102.

[0028] Then at least one actuator 112 is operated to move the at least one actuator 112 to a closed position to prevent the pressurized cleaning fluid 107 from flowing from the pressurized reservoir 104 to the at least one spray nozzle 106.

[0029] In some embodiments, the pressurized fluid system 100 includes a timer associated with at least one actuator 112, and the at least one actuator 112 is operated into a closed position after remaining in an open position for a predetermined period of time. In other embodiments, the pressurized fluid system 100 includes a flow meter associated with at least one actuator 112, and the at least one actuator 112 is operated into a closed position after a predetermined volume of pressurized cleaning fluid 107 has been dispensed from at least one spray nozzle 107.

[0030] The pressurized fluid system 100 can then direct compressed air 124a onto the sensor surface 102a and compressed air 124b onto the sensor surface 102b to accelerate the drying of the pressurized cleaning solution 107.

Claims

1. A method for cleaning a sensor surface on a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: Providing a pressurized fluid system, the pressurized fluid system comprising: A main reservoir disposed on the vehicle, the main reservoir containing a pressurized cleaning fluid; A pressurized reservoir disposed on the vehicle and distal to the main reservoir; A pump disposed on the vehicle and fluidly connected to the main reservoir for directing the pressurized cleaning fluid from the main reservoir to the pressurized reservoir; At least one spray nozzle disposed on the vehicle, adjacent to the sensor surface and proximal to the pressurized reservoir; and At least one actuator coupled to the at least one spray nozzle for controlling the flow of pressurized fluid from the pressurized reservoir to the at least one spray nozzle; Operating the at least one actuator to an open position and enabling the pressurized cleaning fluid to flow to the at least one spray nozzle; Dispensing the pressurized cleaning fluid from the at least one spray nozzle towards the sensor surface; and Operating the at least one actuator to a closed position and reducing the flow of the pressurized cleaning fluid to the at least one spray nozzle.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The pressurized fluid system further includes a compressed air source disposed on the vehicle and pneumatically connected to at least one of the following: the at least one actuator, a pipe connecting the at least one actuator and the at least one spray nozzle, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of: Directing compressed air from the compressed air source into the pressurized fluid to generate a charged pressurized fluid; and Dispensing the charged pressurized fluid from the at least one spray nozzle towards the sensor surface.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: Moving the at least one actuator to a closed position after the at least one actuator has been in the open position for a predetermined period of time.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: Moving the at least one actuator to a closed position after a predetermined volume of pressurized cleaning fluid has been ejected from the at least one spray nozzle.

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