Ejection nozzle element

Abstract

An ejection nozzle element (10) configured to eject compressed air onto a lens surface of an optical device (12) mounted on a vehicle, comprising: a cover member (22) attached to the vehicle-mounted optical device (12) and containing an air duct (28) through which the compressed air flows; a pipe connection part provided on the cover element (22) and configured to supply the compressed air to the air duct (28); and an air ejection unit (26) formed at one end of the lid member (22) and communicating with the air channel (28), the air ejection unit (26) being configured to eject the compressed air to the lens surface; wherein the air ejection unit (26) is designed to have a gap between the air ejection unit (26) and the lens surface in the cover element (22), wherein the vehicle-mounted optical device (12) comprises a housing (14) to which a lens (20) having the lens surface is attached, the lens (20) being attached to a first surface of the housing (14), wherein a lower portion of the air duct (28) is formed at a lower end of the cover member (22) formed on the housing (14) and the air ejection unit (26), wherein a pair of sealing elements (36a, 36b) are formed on an inner wall of the air duct (28), the inner wall extending in a direction perpendicular to a direction along which the air duct extends, the pair of sealing elements (36a, 36b) projecting from the inner wall toward the air duct (28) and being inclined toward and abutting against the first surface.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an ejection nozzle member for ejecting compressed air to remove water droplets and the like adhering to an optical device mounted on a vehicle. Description of related technology

[0002] For example, a foreign matter removal device has been conventionally known for removing water droplets or the like adhering to an exterior camera mounted on a vehicle and ensuring high visibility. In such a foreign matter removal device, as disclosed in, for example, International Publication WO 2015 / 159763 A1, a nozzle unit and a high-pressure air generation unit are connected via a piping. The nozzle unit is integrally formed with a vehicle-mounted camera and is equipped with a mounting bracket fixed to a vehicle body or the like, and a nozzle from which high-pressure air is jetted. Moreover, the distal end of the nozzle is arranged to face a lens of the vehicle-mounted camera.After the high-pressure air generated by the high-pressure air generation unit is supplied to the nozzle through the piping, the high-pressure air is jetted from the nozzle to the lens of the camera mounted on the vehicle, thereby blowing away water droplets, dust, and the like adhering to the lens.

[0003] Furthermore, WO 2017 / 002 878 A1 discloses a device for removing foreign materials from a lens of a vehicle-mounted camera. The device is provided with a generating unit for generating high-pressure air and a nozzle unit for ejecting the high-pressure air.

[0004] A self-cleaning device for a window of a vehicle-mounted tripod head is known from CN 2 01 296 214 Y. The device comprises a passage for conveying a compressed gas and an air duct.

[0005] WO 2017 / 002877 A1 discloses a device for removing foreign materials from a lens of an on-board camera. A camera mount for mounting the camera is provided with a conduit through which high-pressure air is ejected from a nozzle toward the lens.

[0006] Finally, in this context, reference is made to JP 2012 - 35 654 A, DE 10 2010 041 475 A1, DE 10 2012 218 583 A1, JP 2012 - 201 122 A, US 2011 / 0 292 212 A1, US 2013 / 0 048 035 A1, US2015 / 0 183 406 A1, US 2015 / 0 296 108 A1, US 2015 / 0 353 024 A1 and CN 2 01 923 085 U. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] However, in the configuration of the aforementioned International Publication WO 2015 / 159763 A1, when the high-pressure air is jetted from the nozzle, the nozzle rises upward away from the vehicle-mounted camera due to the pressure of the high-pressure air passing through the air passage of the nozzle, and the water droplets or the like that adhered to the surface of the vehicle-mounted camera or the nozzle unit penetrate into the air passage from the gap formed between the two elements, and the droplets or the like move again through the air passage to the lens side and are adhered thereto.

[0008] A general object of the present invention is to provide an ejection nozzle element capable of ensuring tightness when compressed air is ejected and reliably preventing water droplets, dust and the like from entering the air ejection unit.

[0009] The present invention is characterized by an ejection nozzle element according to main claim 1, which solves the problem. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the subclaims.

[0010] According to the present invention, the ejection nozzle member for ejecting compressed air to the lens surface of the vehicle-mounted optical device includes the cover member attached to the vehicle-mounted optical device, and the air ejection unit formed at the end of the cover member and communicating with the air passage to thereby eject the compressed air to the lens surface. Furthermore, the sealing member is formed on the cover member along the boundary with the air ejection unit, and the sealing member is formed obliquely toward the air ejection unit side.

[0011] Therefore, because the lid member is attached to the vehicle-mounted device and the sealing member is supported on the vehicle-mounted optical device, when the compressed air is supplied to the air ejection unit while passing through the air duct and being ejected onto the lens surface, the sealing member can be arranged in closer contact with the vehicle-mounted device because the sealing member inclined toward the air ejection unit side is pressed against the vehicle-mounted optical device by the compressed air.

[0012] As a result, even in the case where, for example, the lid member is raised toward the vehicle-mounted optical device due to the pressure of the compressed air in the air ejection unit, the sealing member is pressed in a direction where the sealing member comes into close contact with the vehicle-mounted optical device. Therefore, the contact state is reliably maintained, and the entry of water droplets, dust, and the like into the interior of the air ejection unit through a gap between the ejection nozzle member and the vehicle-mounted optical device is reliably prevented.

[0013] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of the ejection nozzle member according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a vehicle-mounted camera to which the ejection nozzle member is mounted; Fig. 2 is a front view of the Fig. 1 shown ejection nozzle element and the camera mounted on the vehicle; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view with partial omission along line III-III of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the ejection nozzle element along line IV-IV of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a distal end of the ejection nozzle member according to the modified example. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] First, a vehicle-mounted camera (according to claims, a vehicle-mounted optical device) 12 is described, to which an ejection nozzle element 10 is attached. As shown in Fig. 1, the vehicle-mounted camera 12 is, for example, a rear view camera disposed near the center of a rear door R in a vehicle, and includes a housing 14 formed in a box shape with an approximately rectangular cross-sectional shape, and a camera 16 accommodated in the interior of the housing 14. A lens (lens surface) 20 of the camera 16 is exposed to the outside through a lens hole 18 formed on a rear end surface (first surface) 14a of the housing 14.

[0015] Furthermore, in the vehicle-mounted camera 12, one end portion in the longitudinal direction (direction of arrows A and B) of the housing 14 is fixed with respect to the rear door R, and the lens 20 of the camera 16 protrudes rearward (in the direction of arrow A) with respect to the rear door R by a predetermined length. Further, the ejection nozzle member 10 is attached to an upper surface (second surface) 14b of the housing 14, which is substantially perpendicular to the rear end surface 14a where the lens 20 is exposed to the outside.

[0016] Next, the ejection nozzle element 10 attached to the vehicle-mounted camera 12 will be described.

[0017] As in the Fig. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the ejection nozzle member 10 is formed of an elastomeric material such as rubber or the like and is mounted to cover a portion of the vehicle-mounted camera 12. The ejection nozzle member 10 includes a cover member 22, a pair of support members 24a, 24b projecting outward in the width direction relative to the cover member 22, and an air ejection unit 26 formed at one end of the cover member 22 and through which compressed air is ejected.

[0018] The cover member 22 is arranged, for example, to cover portions of the substantially flat and horizontal upper surface 14b and the rear end surface 14a of the vehicle-mounted camera 12, and is obliquely curved upwards so that the height of the cover member 22 gradually changes along its longitudinal direction (in the direction of arrows A and B). Furthermore, the underside of the cover member 22 abuts against the substantially flat upper surface 14b of the vehicle-mounted camera 12.

[0019] Furthermore, as in Fig. 3, an air duct 28 extending from one end to the other end along the longitudinal direction (in the direction of arrows A and B) is formed in the cover member 22. The air duct 28 has, for example, a rectangular cross section which is in the width direction (in the direction of arrow C in Fig. 2) is wide perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0020] Furthermore, one end of the cover member 22 is formed at the highest point, and a connecting pipe (pipe connection part) 30 is connected to one end. The connecting pipe 30 is bent at a right angle with respect to a point connected to the cover member 22. One end of the connecting pipe 30 communicates with the air duct 28 inside the cover member 22, while the piping 32 to which the compressed air is supplied is connected to the other end thereof, which protrudes to the outside.

[0021] Furthermore, the compressed air in the air duct 28 is supplied from an unillustrated compressed air supply source through the piping 32 and the connecting pipe 30. Furthermore, when attached to the vehicle-mounted camera 12, the end of the cover member 22 is located at a lowermost position.

[0022] The support members 24a, 24b are plate-shaped with a predetermined thickness and are respectively arranged as outer sides in the width direction (the direction of arrow C) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cover member 22. The support members 24a, 24b have L-shaped cross sections that are bent downward at right angles in the width direction from the sides of the cover member 22. Moreover, when the cover member 22 is installed in abutment against the top surface 14b of the vehicle-mounted camera 12, the pair of support members 24a, 24b are respectively arranged in abutment against the side surfaces of the vehicle-mounted camera 12, thereby supporting the cover member 22 in the width direction (in the direction of arrow C).

[0023] The air ejection unit 26 is arranged at the other end of the cover member 22. When attached to the vehicle-mounted camera 12, the air ejection unit 26 extends toward the rear end surface 14a of the housing 14, and one end of the air ejection unit 26 faces the opening of the lens hole 18. Specifically, the end of the air ejection unit 26 extends near the outer edge of the lens 20 (there is a gap between the air ejection unit 26 and the lens 20) (see Fig. 2).

[0024] Furthermore, as in Fig. 3, the air duct 28 extending from the cover member 22 is formed in the interior of the air ejection unit 26, and at its other end, an ejection hole 34 is formed as an opening of the air duct 28. Further, in the air ejection unit 26, the air duct 28 is formed so that it faces directly toward the rear end surface 14a of the vehicle-mounted camera 12. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 4, on outer sides in the width direction of the air duct 28, a pair of sealing members 36a, 36b are provided, which bear against the rear end surface 14a of the vehicle-mounted camera 12.

[0025] As in Fig. 4, the sealing members 36a, 36b are arranged, for example, along the extending direction of the air passage 28 and the ejection hole 34. The sealing members 36a, 36b extend in directions away from the air ejection unit 26, and specifically, project downward, and are formed in the shape of lips extending in a direction oblique to the center in the width direction of the air passage 28. In other words, the sealing members 36a, 36b are formed along a boundary between the air ejection unit 26 (the lid member 22) and the air passage 28. Further, the sealing members 36a, 36b have tapered shapes that taper toward their distal ends.

[0026] In addition, the sealing elements 36a, 36b are supported with respect to the rear end surface 14a of the camera 12 mounted on the vehicle in such a way that their distal ends point inward toward each other in the width direction.

[0027] The ejection nozzle element 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is basically configured as described above. The following describes the actions and effects of the ejection nozzle element 10.

[0028] Initially, after checking the adhesion of water droplets, dust, and the like on the lens 20 in the vehicle-mounted camera 12, a compressed air supply source (not shown) is operated based on a control signal from an unillustrated controller or human operation, and high-pressure air is supplied to the connecting pipe 30 via the piping 32. The compressed air flows from the connecting pipe 30 through the lid member 22 and the air passage 28 of the air ejection unit 26 and is ejected from the ejection hole 34 toward the lens 20 of the vehicle-mounted camera 12, whereby the compressed air blows away the water droplets and the like adhering to the lens 20.

[0029] Since the sealing elements 36a, 36b are thereby pushed towards the housing 14 (in the direction of arrow D in Fig. 4), the sealing elements 36a, 36b are held in even closer contact with the housing 14, thereby improving the sealing performance. Furthermore, even in the case where the air ejection unit 26 rises away from the housing 14 (upward) due to the high-pressure air flowing through the air passage 28, the abutment state of the sealing elements 36a, 36b is reliably maintained because the lip-shaped sealing elements 36a, 36b are pressed toward the housing 14 by the pressing force of the compressed air and deformed in the upright direction.

[0030] Therefore, at the same time as preventing leakage of the compressed air to the outside of the air duct 28, water droplets, dust, and the like that have entered and remained between the surface of the vehicle-mounted camera 12 and the ejection nozzle member 10 are reliably prevented from entering the interior of the air duct 28.

[0031] In the above manner, according to the present embodiment, in the ejection nozzle member 10 for removing water droplets and the like adhering to the lens of the vehicle-mounted camera 12, the air passage 28 through which the compressed air flows is provided in the interior of the lid member 22 attached to the vehicle-mounted camera 12, and in the air ejection unit 26 formed at the end of the lid member 22, the lip-shaped seal members 36a, 36b are formed on outer sides of the air passage 28 in the width direction, and the seal members 36a, 36b are formed inclined toward the air passage 28 side and the housing 14 side and are brought into abutment against the rear end surface 14a of the housing 14.

[0032] Accordingly, when the compressed air is supplied to the air duct 28 and ejected from the ejection hole 34 and the water droplets and the like adhering to the lens 20 of the vehicle-mounted camera 12 are blown away, the sealing members 36a, 36b are pressed toward the housing 14 by the compressed air within the air duct 28, whereby the sealing members 36a, 36b can be brought into even closer contact with the housing 14 and ensure a hermetic seal. Therefore, even in the case where the ejection nozzle member 10 is raised away from the vehicle-mounted camera 12 by the pressure of the compressed air, the distal end sides of the sealing members 36a, 36b are deformed to spread outward in the width direction while remaining in abutment against the rear end surface 14a of the housing 14, thereby reliably maintaining the abutment state with respect to the housing 14 and ensuring sealing.

[0033] As a result, the sealing elements 36a, 36b of the ejection nozzle element 10 can always be in contact with the housing 14 of the vehicle-mounted camera 12, and even when the ejection nozzle element 10 is slightly separated from the housing 14, the intrusion of water droplets, dust, and the like between the two elements into the interior of the air duct 28 can be reliably prevented. Furthermore, leakage of the compressed air in the air duct 28 to the outside can also be prevented by the pair of sealing elements 36a, 36b.

[0034] Therefore, even after water droplets and the like adhering to the lens 20 are removed by the compressed air, the movement of these water droplets and the like that have entered the air passage 28 to the side of the lens 20 and the re-adherence of the water droplets to the lens 20 can be prevented.

[0035] Further, the ejection nozzle member 10 is attached to the top side 14b of the vehicle-mounted camera 12, and by extending the air ejection unit 26 from which the compressed air is ejected to the lens 20 of the rear end surface 14a, the projection amount to the rear side (in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 1) of the vehicle to which the vehicle-mounted camera 12 is mounted. As a result, the space behind the vehicle is not restricted, enabling effective use of this space.

[0036] In addition, because the ejection nozzle member 10 is made of elastic material, it is also capable of functioning as a protector covering portions of the top surface 14b and the rear end surface 14a of the vehicle-mounted camera 12, and therefore the ejection nozzle member 10 can be protected from coming into contact with the vehicle-mounted camera 12.

[0037] Furthermore, the sealing elements 36a, 36b in the air ejection unit 26 are not limited to the above-described case in which they are lip-shaped. For example, like the sealing elements 52a, 52b of the Fig. 5, the sealing elements are formed with a semicircular cross section that bulges outward from a bottom surface of the air ejection unit 26.

[0038] Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, a case has been described where the vehicle-mounted camera 12 to which the ejection nozzle elements 10, 50 are mounted is a rear camera provided at a rear portion of the vehicle. However, the present invention is not limited to this feature. For example, the vehicle-mounted camera 12 may also be a front camera mounted at a front portion of the vehicle.

[0039] An ejection nozzle element (10) attached to a vehicle-mounted camera (12) is formed of an elastic material and includes a cover element (22) attached to a top surface (14b) of a housing (14), wherein an air duct (28) to which compressed air is supplied is provided in the cover element (22). A pair of sealing elements (36a, 36b) are formed in an air ejection unit (26) from which the compressed air is ejected, on widthwise outer sides of the air duct (28). The sealing elements (36a, 36b) are lip-shaped and extend downward and toward the center in the width direction on one side of the air duct (28).When the ejection nozzle member (10) is attached to the camera (12), distal ends of the sealing members (36a, 36b) are brought into mutual contact on one side of the air passage (28), and are pressed toward the housing (14) by the compressed air flowing in the air passage (28), thereby bringing them into close contact therewith.

Claims

[1] An ejection nozzle element (10) configured to eject compressed air onto a lens surface of an optical device (12) mounted on a vehicle, comprising: a cover member (22) attached to the vehicle-mounted optical device (12) and containing an air duct (28) through which the compressed air flows; a pipe connection part provided on the cover element (22) and configured to supply the compressed air to the air duct (28); and an air ejection unit (26) formed at one end of the lid member (22) and communicating with the air channel (28), the air ejection unit (26) being configured to eject the compressed air to the lens surface; wherein the air ejection unit (26) is designed to have a gap between the air ejection unit (26) and the lens surface in the cover element (22), wherein the vehicle-mounted optical device (12) comprises a housing (14) to which a lens (20) having the lens surface is attached, the lens (20) being attached to a first surface of the housing (14), wherein a lower portion of the air duct (28) is formed at a lower end of the cover member (22) formed on the housing (14) and the air ejection unit (26), wherein a pair of sealing elements (36a, 36b) are formed on an inner wall of the air duct (28), the inner wall extending in a direction perpendicular to a direction along which the air duct extends, the pair of sealing elements (36a, 36b) projecting from the inner wall toward the air duct (28) and being inclined toward and abutting against the first surface. [2] The ejection nozzle element of claim 1, wherein the vehicle-mounted optical device (12) further includes a second surface adjacent to the first surface; and the ejection nozzle element (10) is arranged on the second surface, and the lid element (22) and the air ejection unit (26) extend from the second surface to the lens surface of the first surface. [3] Ejection nozzle element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ejection nozzle element (10) is made of elastic material. [4] An ejection nozzle element according to claim 1, wherein the air ejection unit (26) is arranged to extend toward the lens surface. [5] An ejection nozzle element according to claim 1, wherein the pair of sealing members (36a, 36b) is arranged to protrude toward the center side of the air passage (28). [6] An ejection nozzle member according to claim 5, wherein each of said sealing members (36a, 36b) is formed in a lip shape tapered toward its distal end.

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