Motor vehicle with an ultrasonic cleaning device and method for operating an ultrasonic cleaning device

Abstract

Motor vehicle with an ultrasonic cleaning device (1) comprising an ultrasonic generator (3) and at least one liquid outlet opening (5) which, together with the ultrasonic generator (3), is directed or can be directed towards a surface (8) to be cleaned, characterized in that a reflector device (10) is designed and positioned relative to the liquid outlet opening (5) and the ultrasonic generator (3) such that, during operation of the ultrasonic cleaning device (1), the ultrasonic generator (3) is at least partially surrounded by liquid which exits from the liquid outlet opening (5) and is deflected by the reflector device (10), wherein the reflector device (10) is arranged obliquely in front of the liquid outlet opening (5), whereby the principle that the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection ensures in a simple manner that sufficient liquid reaches the ultrasonic generator (3).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle with an ultrasonic cleaning device having an ultrasonic generator and at least one liquid outlet opening, which, together with the ultrasonic generator, is or can be directed toward a surface to be cleaned. The invention further relates to a method for operating such an ultrasonic cleaning device.

[0002] German utility model DE 20 2004 019 617 U1 discloses a high-pressure cleaner equipped with at least one ultrasonic generator that generates high-energy ultrasound and transmits it to a water jet. German laid-open patent application DE 10 2004 061 195 A1 discloses a cleaning device equipped with an ultrasonic generator for cleaning vehicle surfaces, the energy of which is transmitted to the vehicle surface during a washing process. Japanese laid-open patent application JP S62 - 261 560 A discloses a motor vehicle with a windshield associated with an ultrasonic cleaning device for window panes, with the aid of which ultrasonic waves are generated in a washing fluid. American laid-open patent application US 2006 / 0 191 562 A1 discloses an ultrasonic cleaning device,comprising: a hose having a main body and a nozzle unit; a water supply line for supplying detergent to a cavity of the nozzle unit; an ultrasonic transducer contained inside the main body of the housing and generating ultrasonic vibrations; a drive circuit contained inside the main body of the housing and driving the ultrasonic transducer; and an ultrasonic wave propagating element provided so as to protrude into the interior of the main body and into the cavity of the nozzle unit, the ultrasonic transducer being fixed to a portion thereof on the main body side and transmitting the ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic transducer from an end surface thereof on the nozzle unit side directly to the laundry supplied into the cavity of the nozzle unit, a portion of the ultrasonic wave propagating element protruding into the cavity of the nozzle being shaped so as tothat the cross-sectional area gradually decreases in a direction parallel to a connecting surface with the ultrasonic transducer toward the end portion on the nozzle side, wherein the portion of the ultrasonic wave propagation element that projects into the cavity of the nozzle is substantially truncated cone-shaped and rotationally symmetrical, and has a reflected side surface with a substantially exponential function, hyperbolic curve, or the shape of a Fourier series. German Offenlegungsschrift DE 44 35 941 A1 discloses a device for liquid-assisted cleaning of a headlight having at least one cover plate, wherein an ultrasonic vibrator is assigned to at least the cover plate.which can be activated with optional use of separately provided and / or randomly present liquid for cleaning. German Offenlegungsschrift DE 42 17 559 A1 discloses a device for keeping the exposed surface of an optical imaging system or radar system clean. A ring- or tube-like, piezoelectrically excitable resonator device is provided, which is coupled to the exposed surface in the form of an optical element or protective window and via which the element or protective window can be excited to flexural vibrations in the ultrasonic frequency range. Devices are provided via which liquid is applied to the oscillating surface of the element or protective window. The flexural vibrations generate ultrasonic capillary waves on the surface, which lead to the atomization of the liquid together with the dirt particles detached from the surface.

[0003] The object of the invention is to improve the cleaning of surfaces, in particular on motor vehicles, by means of an ultrasonic cleaning device with an ultrasonic generator and with at least one liquid outlet opening which, together with the ultrasonic generator, is or can be directed towards a surface to be cleaned.

[0004] The object is achieved by a motor vehicle with an ultrasonic cleaning device having the features of patent claim 1 and by a method having the features of patent claim 8. This ensures in a simple manner that the ultrasonic generator is sufficiently surrounded by liquid during operation of the ultrasonic cleaning device. The reflector plate is attached, for example, to a housing of the ultrasonic cleaning device. The liquid is sprayed through the outlet opening, for example, onto the surface to be cleaned. Ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic generator propagate in the liquid. Ultrasonic cleaning is carried out in moving liquid. The reflector device ensures in a simple manner that the ultrasonic generator is surrounded by liquid.The invention further relates to a motor vehicle having a previously described ultrasonic device, which is operated in particular according to a previously described method.

[0005] A preferred embodiment of the ultrasonic cleaning device is characterized in that the reflector device is arranged significantly closer to the liquid outlet opening than the surface to be cleaned. The ultrasonic generator, the liquid outlet opening, and the reflector device are advantageously arranged very close to one another.

[0006] Another preferred embodiment of the ultrasonic cleaning device is characterized in that the reflector device is dimensioned and positioned such that only a small portion of the liquid exiting the liquid outlet opening is deflected toward the ultrasonic generator. This ensures in a simple manner that the majority of the liquid reaches the surface to be cleaned.

[0007] The ultrasonic cleaning device is assigned, for example, to a window, a headlight and / or a sensor device of the motor vehicle.

[0008] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which various embodiments are described in detail with reference to the drawing.

[0009] The only accompanying figure shows a simplified representation of an ultrasonic cleaning device according to the invention.

[0010] The attached figure shows a simplified illustration of an ultrasonic cleaning device 1 with a housing 2. A circle 3 indicates an ultrasonic generator on the housing 2. A further circle 5 indicates a liquid outlet opening on the housing 2.

[0011] Radial lines with circular arcs indicate the liquid emerging from the liquid outlet opening 5 and being set into ultrasonic vibrations by the ultrasonic generator 3. The liquid is sprayed onto a surface 8 to be cleaned.

[0012] A reflector device 10 ensures that a part of the liquid emerging from the liquid outlet opening 5 is deflected at the reflector device 10 and reaches the ultrasound generator 3.

[0013] This ensures in a simple manner that the ultrasonic generator 3 is surrounded by liquid during operation of the ultrasonic cleaning device 1. This, in turn, ensures that the ultrasonic vibrations propagate throughout the liquid exiting the liquid outlet opening 5.

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle with an ultrasonic cleaning device (1) with an ultrasonic generator (3) and with at least one liquid outlet opening (5) which, together with the ultrasonic generator (3), is or can be directed towards a surface (8) to be cleaned, characterized by in that a reflector device (10) is designed and positioned relative to the liquid outlet opening (5) and the ultrasonic generator (3) such that the ultrasonic generator (3) is, during operation of the ultrasonic cleaning device (1), at least partially surrounded by liquid which exits from the liquid outlet opening (5) and is deflected at the reflector device (10), wherein the reflector device (10) is arranged obliquely in front of the liquid outlet opening (5), wherein the principle that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection ensures in a simple manner that sufficient liquid reaches the ultrasonic generator (3). [2] Motor vehicle with an ultrasonic cleaning device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the reflector device (10) is designed as a reflector plate. [3] Motor vehicle with an ultrasonic cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the reflector device (10) is arranged significantly closer to the liquid outlet opening (5) than the surface to be cleaned (8). [4] Motor vehicle with an ultrasonic cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the reflector device (10) is dimensioned and positioned such that only a small part of the liquid emerging from the liquid outlet opening (5) is deflected to the ultrasound generator (3). [5] Motor vehicle with an ultrasonic cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the ultrasonic cleaning device (1) is assigned to a window of the motor vehicle. [6] Motor vehicle with an ultrasonic cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the ultrasonic cleaning device (1) is assigned to a headlight of the motor vehicle. [7] Motor vehicle with an ultrasonic cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ultrasonic cleaning device (1) is assigned to a sensor device of the motor vehicle. [8] Method for operating an ultrasonic cleaning device (1) on a motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims.

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