Cleaning system for a vehicle and vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cleaning system for a vehicle and such a vehicle, wherein the cleaning device comprises: a first nozzle (10) and a second nozzle (12), a first actuator (20) and a second actuator (22), and an evaluation unit (30), wherein the first nozzle (10) and the second nozzle (12) are oriented towards a component (40) to be cleaned in order to provide a cleaning function for the component (40), the first actuator (20) is configured to discharge a first medium (50) via the first nozzle (10), the second actuator (22) is configured to discharge a second medium via the second nozzle (12), and wherein the evaluation unit (30) is connected to the first actuator (20) and the second actuator (22) and is configured to determine an influencing variable (60) acting on the cleaning system,which reduces an overall cleaning effect based on a first cleaning jet (70) generated by means of the first medium (50) from the first nozzle (10) and on a second cleaning jet (72) generated by means of the second medium from the second nozzle (22) due to an influence on at least one of the cleaning jets (70, 72) and adapts a control of the first actuator (20) and / or the second actuator (22) depending on the influencing variable (60) in order to maintain the desired overall cleaning effect of the cleaning device as far as possible.

Description

State of the art

[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning system for a vehicle and a vehicle with such a cleaning device.

[0002] Known nozzle arrangements, which are arranged on vehicles for cleaning, for example, headlights and sensors (e.g., cameras, lidar, ultrasonic, radar sensors, etc.), are designed on the basis of a single nozzle or a single nozzle curtain, each of which is to be cleaned.

[0003] An orientation of such a nozzle and / or a shape of a spray jet produced by the nozzle and / or an output pressure of a medium from the nozzle are generally fixed, so that an influence on the spray jet of the nozzle, for example by a wind load, by a centrifugal force, etc., can cause a deflection of the spray jet, whereby it can be deflected from a target area to be cleaned on the surface to be cleaned. Disclosure of the invention

[0004] The cleaning system according to the invention for a vehicle (e.g. a car, a truck, a bus, a van, a rail vehicle, etc.) has at least one first nozzle and one second nozzle, at least one first actuator and one second actuator and an evaluation unit, wherein the evaluation unit can be designed, for example, as an ASIC, FPGA, processor, digital signal processor, microcontroller, or the like, and can be a component of an existing control unit or an independent control unit of the vehicle or a different electronic unit of the vehicle.

[0005] The first nozzle and the second nozzle are each directed toward a component of the vehicle to be cleaned in order to provide a cleaning function for the component. For example, the nozzles are each arranged on substantially opposite sides of the surface to be cleaned, wherein the surface to be cleaned can be, for example, a (partial) surface of a protective window of a sensor or a (partial) surface of a lighting device, etc. of the vehicle. In a case in which the cleaning device advantageously has further nozzles, these can advantageously be arranged substantially equidistant from one another around the surface to be cleaned.

[0006] The arrangement positions for the nozzles as described above are not to be regarded as a restriction with regard to possible alternative arrangement positions, but it is advantageous if the nozzles each have certain minimum distances from one another and in particular different orientations with respect to the surface to be cleaned in order to be able to achieve an effect according to the invention described below particularly effectively.

[0007] The first actuator is configured to discharge a first medium via the first nozzle, while the second actuator is configured to discharge a second medium via the second nozzle. It should be noted that the first medium and the second medium are preferably a liquid, and that the first medium and the second medium are more preferably the same medium, without thereby imposing a restriction on the definition of the first medium and the second medium. In a case in which the first medium and the second medium are the same medium, the medium can, for example, be stored in a single storage container of the vehicle, from which the medium can be transported to the first nozzle and the second nozzle by the first actuator and the second actuator.

[0008] The evaluation unit is connected to the first actuator and the second actuator via information technology and is configured to determine at least one influencing factor acting on the cleaning system, which reduces a desired overall cleaning effect based on a first cleaning jet generated from the first nozzle by means of the first medium and based on a second cleaning jet generated from the second nozzle by means of the second medium due to an influence on at least one of the cleaning jets. The at least one influencing factor, which will be described in more detail later, is, for example, a wind acting on the cleaning jets, which can cause an unwanted deflection of at least one of the cleaning jets from the surface to be cleaned or from a target area on the surface to be cleaned.

[0009] The at least one influencing variable is determined, for example, based on one or more sensors of the vehicle, which can be connected wirelessly and / or wired to the evaluation unit. Furthermore, it is conceivable that information about the at least one influencing variable is alternatively or additionally determined by a device located away from the vehicle and transmitted to the vehicle. Such a device can, for example, be a weather station, which can provide information regarding wind direction and / or wind strength at a current position of the vehicle.

[0010] The evaluation unit is further configured to adapt control of the first actuator and / or the second actuator depending on the at least one influencing variable in order to maintain the desired overall cleaning effect of the cleaning device as far as possible. In this context, it should be noted that the actuators can be activated and deactivated simultaneously, alternately, or at least partially simultaneously by the evaluation unit. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the actuators can cause different output pressures of the first medium and the second medium depending on the determined influencing variable. In one exemplary embodiment, the evaluation unit controls the nozzle for outputting the cleaning medium whose orientation can best counteract a direction of action of the influencing variable.

[0011] The cleaning device according to the invention thus offers the particular advantage that the cleaning performance of a surface to be cleaned on a vehicle can be improved compared to a conventional cleaning device, since a reduction in cleaning performance caused by an adverse influence on the cleaning jets by various influencing factors can be at least partially compensated. In other words, it is possible, for example, to at least partially redirect a cleaning jet that has been (at least partially) deflected from the surface to be cleaned by the influencing factor back to a target position on the surface to be cleaned.This results in a further advantage in that the amount of the first medium and / or the second medium required for cleaning the surface to be cleaned can be reduced compared to a conventional cleaning device, since the cleaning device according to the invention is configured to dispense the cleaning medium(s) more precisely onto the surface to be cleaned. This can, in particular, lead to a reduction in the frequency of refilling the medium(s), thereby increasing user comfort for the vehicle user and enabling costs to be saved.

[0012] The subclaims show preferred developments of the invention.

[0013] Preferably, the first actuator and / or the second actuator are a pump and / or a controllable valve. In an exemplary embodiment in which the first medium and the second medium are the same medium, it is possible, among other things, for the medium to be provided in a single reservoir of the vehicle and for a single pump to transport the medium and two valves arranged independently of one another downstream of the pump to be provided, via which valves the medium can be transported to the first nozzle and the second nozzle independently of one another by appropriate control by the evaluation unit. In this case, the pump would be assigned to both the first actuator and the second actuator, while a first valve would be assigned only to the first actuator and a second valve only to the second actuator. In addition, numerous further embodiments and / or combinations of the first actuator and the second actuator are conceivable, which include, among other things:a first pump as the first actuator and a second pump as the second actuator. Alternatively or additionally, the first medium and / or the second medium is a liquid, in particular a cleaning liquid. Further alternatively or additionally, the first medium and / or the second medium is a gas, in particular air. Accordingly, a mixture of a liquid and a gas can also be used to generate the first cleaning jet and / or the second cleaning jet. Furthermore, it is possible to use different mixing ratios of a liquid and a gas for the first cleaning jet and the second cleaning jet, in particular depending on the existing influencing variable.

[0014] As already mentioned above, the first nozzle and the second nozzle are preferably arranged on opposite sides of the component to be cleaned, wherein respective exit surfaces of the respective nozzles are in this case advantageously aligned such that the respective cleaning jets have opposite directions.

[0015] In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the evaluation unit is configured to determine the at least one influencing variable based on an information source of the vehicle (e.g. based on sensors such as inertial sensors, position sensors, GPS sensors, etc. and / or based on route information of a navigation system, the vehicle, etc.) and / or based on an information source arranged away from the vehicle (e.g. a weather station, a server, etc.).

[0016] The at least one influencing variable is, for example, an acceleration acting on the cleaning system and / or a centrifugal force and / or a spatial position of the cleaning system and / or a particle stream acting on the cleaning system, wherein the particle stream can be, for example, a wind, in particular a crosswind and / or a headwind and / or precipitation and / or spray of water stirred up by a road surface, etc.

[0017] In a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the evaluation unit is configured to adapt an output pressure and / or a jet shape and / or a jet width and / or an orientation of the first cleaning jet and / or the second cleaning jet and / or a mixing ratio between the first medium and the second medium for the respective cleaning jet by means of the adapted control of the first actuator and / or the second actuator.

[0018] Particularly preferably, the evaluation unit is configured to output the cleaning jet at a higher pressure than the other cleaning jet which is at least partially aligned opposite to a direction of action of the influencing variable. Alternatively or additionally, the evaluation unit is further preferably configured to output the cleaning jet at a lower pressure than the other cleaning jet which is at least partially aligned in the direction of action of the influencing variable. This offers the advantage that, as described above, not only the most suitable nozzle is activated to counteract the influencing variable, but that both or more nozzles are controlled with pressures each adapted to the influencing variable, such that a higher overall cleaning performance can be achieved than with only one currently activated nozzle.

[0019] The cleaning system particularly preferably comprises additional nozzles and actuators corresponding to the additional nozzles. It should be noted that the number of nozzles and the number of actuators can be identical or different from one another. A deviation can occur, for example, if several nozzles are controlled simultaneously by the same actuator. In the present embodiment, the nozzles are arranged in respective corners of an imaginary polygon, within which the component to be cleaned can be arranged. The polygon can be, for example, a triangle, a quadrilateral, an octagon, or a different polygon.The nozzles are also each aligned substantially in the direction of the component to be cleaned, and the evaluation unit is configured to control at least some of the actuators of the respective nozzles independently of one another in order to maintain the desired overall cleaning effect by respective cleaning jets of the plurality of nozzles as far as possible.

[0020] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a vehicle is proposed which has at least one cleaning system according to the first aspect of the invention. The vehicle is designed, for example, as a road vehicle (e.g., a car, truck, motorcycle, bus, van, etc.), a rail vehicle, a watercraft, or an aircraft. The features, combinations of features, and the advantages resulting therefrom correspond to those explained in connection with the first aspect of the invention, so that reference is made to the above explanations to avoid repetition.

[0021] In an advantageous embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the component of the vehicle to be cleaned is a protective window of an environmental sensor (e.g. a lidar, radar, ultrasonic sensor, a camera, etc.) and / or a lighting device (e.g. a headlight, an indicator, etc.) and / or a window (e.g. a windscreen, a rear window, a side window, etc.) of the vehicle. Short description of the drawings

[0022] Embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a cleaning system according to the invention; Fig. 2 an exemplary effect of a first influencing variable on the cleaning system; Fig. 3 an exemplary effect of a second influencing factor on the cleaning system; Fig. 4 an exemplary effect of a third influencing factor on the cleaning system; Fig. 5 is a schematic view of another exemplary embodiment of a cleaning system according to the invention; and Fig. 6 a schematic view of a vehicle according to the invention. Embodiments of the invention

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a cleaning system according to the invention, wherein the cleaning system is designed for cleaning an environment sensor 40 of a vehicle (not shown).

[0024] The cleaning system has a first nozzle 10, a second nozzle 12, a third nozzle 13 and a fourth nozzle 14, which are each arranged equidistant from one another around the environment sensor 40 and are each aligned in the direction of the environment sensor 40.

[0025] The nozzles 10, 12, 13, 14 are connected via respective fluid lines to corresponding valves 20, 22, 23, 24, wherein the valves 20, 22, 23, 24 are configured to enable and prevent the transport of a medium 50, which here is a cleaning fluid held in a reservoir 80 of the vehicle, to the nozzles 10, 12, 13, 14 depending on the respective control of the valves 20, 22, 23, 24.

[0026] For this purpose, the cleaning fluid is pumped under pressure to the valves 20, 22, 23, 24 by means of a pump 25. Both the pump 25 and the valves 20, 22, 23, 24 are electrically connected to an evaluation unit 30 designed as a microcontroller; the electrical connections are not shown here for reasons of clarity.

[0027] The evaluation unit 30 is configured, on the basis of the configuration described above, to determine an influencing variable 60 acting on the cleaning system, which in this case is a wind acting on the cleaning device, wherein the influencing variable can reduce a desired overall cleaning effect of the cleaning device based on respective cleaning jets 70, 72, 73, 74 generated by means of the medium 50 from the respective nozzles 10, 12, 13, 14.

[0028] The evaluation unit 30 is further configured to determine a direction of action and a magnitude of the influencing variable 60 using a sensor 35. Furthermore, the evaluation unit 30 is configured to adjust the control of the valves 20, 22, 23, 24 and the pump 25 depending on the determined influencing variable 60 in order to maintain the desired overall cleaning effect by the cleaning jets 70, 72, 73, 74 as far as possible.

[0029] Fig. Figure 2 shows an exemplary effect of a first influencing variable 60 on the cleaning system, with the cleaning system shown here in a side view. A first nozzle 10, which is arranged above a component 40 to be cleaned, is shown in the left image of Fig. 2 is arranged and aligned with respect to the component 40 to be cleaned in such a way that, in a state in which the influencing variable 60 is not present, it is configured to emit a first cleaning jet 70 substantially centrally onto a surface of the component 40 to be cleaned.

[0030] The first influencing factor 60, which in the right picture of Fig. 2, represents a wind (specifically, a headwind) caused by the longitudinal acceleration of a vehicle on which the cleaning device is mounted. This changes the orientation of the first cleaning jet 70 with respect to the component 40 to be cleaned, thereby correspondingly reducing the cleaning effect of the first cleaning jet 70, since the component 40 to be cleaned is no longer hit centrally by the cleaning jet 70.

[0031] Accordingly, a second nozzle 12 (see Fig. 1), which can advantageously be arranged below the component 40 to be cleaned, alternatively or in addition to the first cleaning jet 70, generate a second cleaning jet 72, which under the influence of the airstream can achieve an improved cleaning effect compared to the first cleaning jet 70.

[0032] Fig. Figure 3 shows an example of the effect of a second influencing variable 60' on the cleaning system. Due to the similarities between Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, to avoid repetition, only the differences to Fig. 2 and otherwise refer to the description Fig. 2.

[0033] In Fig. 3, a side wind acts on the component 40 to be cleaned, which is shown here in a front view, which in the right picture of Fig. 3 causes a corresponding lateral deflection of the first cleaning jet 70. The left image shows a state in which the second influencing variable 60' is not present.

[0034] Analogous to Fig. 2, a reduced cleaning effect due to such undesirable deflection by one or more additional nozzles 12, 13, 14 (see Fig. 1) compensate.

[0035] Fig. 4 shows an example of the effect of a third influencing factor 60" on the cleaning system. Due to the similarities between Fig. 2 and Fig. 4, to avoid repetition, only the differences to Fig. 2 and otherwise refer to the description Fig. 2.

[0036] In Fig. 4, a centrifugal force acts on the component 40 to be cleaned, which is also shown here in a front view, due to cornering, which in the right picture of Fig. 4 causes a corresponding lateral deflection of the first cleaning jet 70. The left image shows a state in which the third influencing variable 60" is not present.

[0037] Analogous to Fig. 2, a reduced cleaning effect due to such undesired deflection can be prevented by one or more additional nozzles 12, 13, 14 (see Fig. 1) compensate.

[0038] Fig. Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of a further exemplary embodiment of a cleaning system according to the invention, wherein respective nozzles 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 of the cleaning system are arranged in a star shape around the component 40 to be cleaned and are thereby connected to an evaluation unit 30 according to the invention (see Fig. 1) and each of the nozzles 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 are equipped with corresponding actuators (not shown), a particularly targeted adjustment of the respective cleaning jets depending on an influencing variable 60 (see Fig. 1) to be carried out.

[0039] Fig. Figure 6 shows a schematic view of a vehicle according to the invention with a cleaning device according to the invention, which is shown here in a simplified manner by a first nozzle 10 and a second nozzle 12. The nozzles 10, 12 are arranged in the vicinity of a lidar sensor 40 of the vehicle in order to clean the lidar sensor 40 independently of the influencing variables 60 currently acting on the cleaning system (see Fig. 1) to be cleaned by a suitable control by means of an evaluation unit 30 with a high cleaning effect and with a low consumption of a cleaning fluid.

Claims

[1] Cleaning system for a vehicle comprising: - at least one first nozzle (10) and one second nozzle (12), - at least one first actuator (20) and one second actuator (22), and - an evaluation unit (30), wherein - the first nozzle (10) and the second nozzle (12) are each directed towards a component (40) to be cleaned in order to provide a cleaning function for the component (40), - the first actuator (20) is arranged to cause a first medium (50) to be dispensed via the first nozzle (10), - the second actuator (22) is arranged to cause a second medium to be dispensed via the second nozzle (12), and - the evaluation unit (30) is connected to the first actuator (20) and the second actuator (22) in terms of information technology and is set up, - to determine at least one influencing variable (60) acting on the cleaning system, which reduces a desired overall cleaning effect on the basis of a first cleaning jet (70) generated by means of the first medium (50) from the first nozzle (10) and on the basis of a second cleaning jet (72) generated by means of the second medium from the second nozzle (22) due to an influence of at least one of the cleaning jets (70, 72), and - to adapt a control of the first actuator (20) and / or the second actuator (22) depending on the at least one influencing variable (60) in order to maintain the desired overall cleaning effect as far as possible. [2] Cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein - the first actuator (20) and / or the second actuator (20) is a pump and / or a controllable valve, and / or - the first medium (50) and / or the second medium - is a liquid, in particular a cleaning liquid, and / or - is a gas, especially air. [3] Cleaning system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first nozzle (10) and the second nozzle (12) are arranged on opposite sides of the component (40) to be cleaned. [4] Cleaning system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the evaluation unit (30) is configured to determine the at least one influencing variable (60) on the basis of an information source of the vehicle and / or an information source arranged away from the vehicle. [5] Cleaning system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one influencing variable (60) - acceleration and / or centrifugal force acting on the cleaning system, and / or - a spatial location of the cleaning system, and / or - a particle stream acting on the cleaning system. [6] Cleaning system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the evaluation unit (30) is configured to determine, by means of the adapted control of the first actuator (20) and / or the second actuator (22), - an output print, and / or - a beam shape, and / or, - a beam width, and / or - an alignment of the first cleaning jet (70) and / or the second cleaning jet (72), and / or - to adjust a mixing ratio between the first medium (50) and the second medium. [7] Cleaning system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the evaluation unit (30) is arranged - to emit that cleaning jet (70, 72) with a higher pressure than the other cleaning jet (70, 72) which is at least partially directed against a direction of action of the influencing variable (60), and / or - to emit that cleaning jet (70, 72) with a lower pressure than the other cleaning jet (70, 72) which is at least partially aligned in the direction of action of the influencing variable (60). [8] Cleaning system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the cleaning system has further nozzles (13, 14) and actuators (23, 24) corresponding to the further nozzles (13, 14), - the nozzles (10, 12, 13, 14) are arranged in respective corners of an imaginary polygon within which the component (40) to be cleaned can be arranged, - the nozzles (10, 12, 13, 14) are each directed substantially in the direction of the component (40) to be cleaned, and - the evaluation unit (30) is configured to control at least some of the actuators (20, 22, 23, 24) of the respective nozzles (10, 12, 13, 14) independently of one another in order to maintain the desired overall cleaning effect by respective cleaning jets (70, 72, 73, 74) of the plurality of nozzles (10, 12, 13, 14) as far as possible. [9] Vehicle comprising a cleaning system according to one of the preceding claims. [10] Vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the component (40) of the vehicle - a protective window of an environmental sensor, and / or - a lighting device, and / or - is a window of the vehicle.

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