FLUIDIC SYSTEM AND FLUIDIC ASSEMBLY

Abstract

The invention relates to a fluidic system (1) comprising: - a pressure tank (10) provided with a lower inlet (14), a lower outlet (15) and an upper inlet (16); - liquid level detection means which comprise - a hollow body (20) extending inside the pressure tank (10) and defining a housing (21); - a lower sensor (31) and an upper sensor (32), located in the housing (21), each sensor being configured to switch from a first state to a second state; - a floating body (40) located inside the pressure tank (10) and in sliding connection with the hollow body (20), the floating body (40) comprising a detection element (41) configured to, when it is opposite one of the sensors, trigger the switching of said sensor; - the filling means (50). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Fluidic system and fluidic assembly FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, and in particular autonomous vehicles. In particular, the present invention relates to the cleaning of sensors installed on vehicles, and more particularly to the projection of liquid and air under pressure for cleaning said sensors.

[0002] The present invention relates to a fluidic system, and in particular to a fluidic system configured to distribute a fluid under pressure. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0003] Motor vehicles are now equipped with numerous sensors, cameras, lidars or radars (hereinafter referred to as "sensors") for driving assistance purposes. These sensors may be located inside or outside the vehicle in order to provide the driver with complete visibility of the environment in which the vehicle is located. For example, the sensors may be located in the bumper, in the side skirt, on the side mirror, behind the windshield, under the hood, near the headlights, on a nacelle roof.

[0004] However, these sensors, exposed to the environment, are likely to be covered with dirt or dust, which can lead to a degradation of their performance. In particular, cameras with dirty lenses can provide a distorted view, cause misinterpretation of obstacles or overlook certain details. Frequent cleaning of these sensors is therefore necessary to ensure their performance.

[0005] In this regard, motor vehicles may be equipped with a cleaning system comprising valves which are generally mounted in extremely dense areas, so that this set of valves requires compact packaging.

[0006] One of the objectives of the present invention is therefore to propose a fluidic system capable of delivering a fluid under pressure.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to propose a fluidic system provided with means for detecting low and high fluid levels, these detection means being protected from external conditions. Summary of the invention

[0008] The above-mentioned objectives of the present invention are, at least partially, achieved by a fluidic system comprising:

[0009] - a pressure tank provided with a lower inlet and a lower outlet, both arranged on a lower face of the pressure tank, and an upper inlet arranged on an upper face of the pressure tank, opposite the lower face, along the main axis XX';

[0010] - liquid level detection means which comprise:

[0011] - a hollow body extending from either the upper or lower faces, along the main axis XX', inside the pressure tank, the hollow body defining a housing which is hermetically isolated from the pressure tank;

[0012] - at least two sensors, called respectively lower sensor and upper sensor, located in the housing, respectively in the lower position and in the upper position, each sensor being configured to pass from a first state and a second state to the other of the first state and the second state;

[0013] - a floating body located inside the pressure tank and connected sliding with the hollow body, the floating body comprising a detection element configured to, when it is opposite one of the sensors, trigger the switching of said sensor;

[0014] - filling means configured to be activated when one of the sensors goes from one of the first state and the second state to the other of the first state and the second state.

[0015] According to one embodiment, each of the two sensors comprises a reed sensor, while the detection element comprises a magnet.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the lower position is a position defining a first level of fluid likely to be present in the pressure tank, while the upper position is a position defining a second level, higher than the first level, of a fluid likely to be present in the pressure tank, the upper inlet is located upstream of the second level along the direction from the upper face to a lower face, so that a fluid injected at the lower inlet can be detected by switching the upper sensor when the second level is reached.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the filling means are connected to the lower inlet and are configured to fill the pressure tank with a fluid when the floating body is opposite the lower sensor and to stop filling when it is opposite the upper sensor.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the filling means comprise at least one element chosen from: a pump, a pressure pump, a control valve.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the hollow body opens via the face from which it extends.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the hollow body extends from the lower face.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the sensors are integrated into an elongated body inserted into the opening of the hollow body.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the pressure tank has a cylindrical shape extending along the main axis XX'.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the pressure tank comprises a plastic material.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the floating body has a disc shape with a central hole through which said floating body is in sliding connection with the hollow body.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the pressure tank comprises lateral ribs configured to improve the mechanical resistance of said pressure tank.

[0026] The invention also relates to a fluidic assembly which comprises:

[0027] - a support having anchoring sites;

[0028] - at least two fluidic systems according to the present invention, each system fluidic system being anchored to an anchoring site via anchoring means, the lower outlet of one of the at least two fluidic systems, called the main system, is fluidically connected to the upper inlet of the other of the at least two fluidic systems.

[0029] According to one embodiment, said fluidic assembly further comprises a compressor connected to the upper inlet of the main system, said compressor being configured to inject compressed air into the main system.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the support has an elongated shape along a secondary axis YY' and the anchoring sites are located on a front face of said support, and the anchoring means are arranged on the lateral surface of the fluidic system.

[0031] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle equipped with sensors, nozzles arranged to spray a fluid onto a sensitive surface of the sensors, the motor vehicle being further equipped with the fluidic assembly according to the present invention, the fluidic assembly being connected to the nozzles. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0032] Other characteristics and advantages will be better understood on reading the following description of the fluidic system according to the invention, provided by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings and in which:

[0033] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is a representation of a fluidic system, in section longitudinal, according to the present invention;

[0034] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a representation of a fluidic system in exploded view;

[0035] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a representation of a fluidic system of [Fig.l] partially filled with a liquid, and in particular filled with a liquid at the first level;

[0036] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a representation of a fluid system of [Fig.l] partially filled with a liquid, and in particular filled with a liquid at an intermediate level between the first level and the second level;

[0037] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a representation of a fluidic system of [Fig.l] partially filled with a liquid, and in particular filled with a liquid at the second level;

[0038] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a representation of a fluidic assembly according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] In the descriptive part, the same references in the drawings may be used for elements of the same type. The drawings are schematic representations which, for reasons of readability, are not necessarily to scale.

[0040] In the following, terms or expressions such as "bottom", "bottom face", "top", "top face" are used. These terms or expressions are defined in terms of horizontal and vertical directions. In particular, a bottom face and the top face, as defined below, are defined with respect to a main axis XX' oriented in the vertical direction.

[0041] The present invention relates to a fluidic system for cleaning sensors, cameras, lidars or radars (hereinafter "sensors"), in particular for cleaning the sensors of a motor vehicle.

[0042] In particular, the present invention relates to a fluidic system comprising:

[0043] - a pressure tank provided with a lower inlet and a lower outlet, both arranged on the lower face of the pressure tank, and an upper inlet arranged on the upper face of the pressure tank, opposite the lower face, along the main axis XX';

[0044] - liquid level detection means which comprise

[0045] - a hollow body extending from either of the upper or lower faces lower, along the main axis XX', inside the pressure tank, the hollow body defining a housing hermetically isolated from the pressure tank;

[0046] - at least two sensors, called respectively lower sensor and upper sensor, located in the housing, respectively in the lower position and in the upper position, each sensor being configured to pass from a first state and a second state to the other first state and second state;

[0047] - a floating body located inside the pressure tank and connected sliding with the hollow body, the floating body comprising a detection element configured to, when it is opposite one of the sensors, trigger the switching of said sensor;

[0048] - filling means configured to be activated when one of the sensors goes from one of the first state and the second state to the other of the first state and the second state.

[0049] [Fig. 1] illustrates a fluidic system 1 according to the present invention. In particular, [Fig. 1] represents the fluidic system 1 in a longitudinal section. The longitudinal section plane is defined as the intersection of a plane passing through a main axis XX' (defined below) and the reservoir (defined below).

[0050] The fluidic system 1 according to the present invention comprises a pressure tank 10.

[0051] In particular, as illustrated in [Fig.l], the pressure tank 10 may have a cylindrical shape. In particular, the pressure tank 10 extends, along a main axis XX', from a lower face 11 to an upper face 12 opposite the lower face 11.

[0052] In the example illustrated in [Fig.l], the lower face 11 and the upper face 12 both have a dome shape and are connected by a lateral surface 13 defining a cylinder.

[0053] The pressure tank 10 is provided with a lower inlet 14 and a lower outlet 15, both arranged on the lower face 11. The bottom outlet 14 may be located in the center of the lower face 11, while the lower inlet may be offset laterally relative to the bottom outlet 14.

[0054] The pressure tank 10 is further provided with an upper inlet 16 located on the upper face 12.

[0055] The pressure tank 10 may comprise a main section 17 and a cover 18. In particular, and as illustrated in [Fig.2], the main section 17 may comprise the upper face 12 and the side surface 13, while the cover 18 may comprise a lower face 11.

[0056] The pressure tank may comprise a plastic material.

[0057] The pressure tank may include side ribs configured to improve the mechanical resistance of said pressure tank.

[0058] The fluidic system 1 also comprises means for detecting the fluid level. In particular, the fluid level detection means comprise a hollow body 20 extending from one or other of the upper 12 or lower 11 faces, along the main axis XX', inside the pressure tank 10. In particular, the hollow body 20 defines a housing 21 which is hermetically isolated from the pressure tank 10.

[0059] The hollow body 20, as shown in [Fig.l], may extend from the upper face 12, from a first end 20a towards a second end 20b. In particular, in this example, the hollow body 20 opens, by its first end, from the upper face 12.

[0060] In the variant illustrated in [Fig. 2], the hollow body 20 can extend from the lower face 11, from the first end 20a towards the second end 20b. In this variant, the hollow body 20 opens, by its first end, onto the lower face 12.

[0061] The liquid level detection means also comprise at least two sensors, respectively called lower sensor 31 and upper sensor 32, located in the housing respectively at a lower position 31a and at an upper position 31b, the upper position 31b being upstream of the lower position 31a in a direction going from the upper face towards the lower face.

[0062] Furthermore, each sensor 31, 32 is configured to switch from a first state and a second state to the other first state and second state.

[0063] The sensor may be part of an elongated body 30 which is inserted into the housing 21, by the first end 20a. In particular, the elongated body 30 and the housing 21 may both have complementary shapes.

[0064] The fluid level detection means comprise a floating body 40 located inside the pressure tank 10 and in sliding connection with the hollow body 20. The floating body comprises a detection element 41 configured such that, when it is opposite one of the sensors 31, 32, it triggers the switching of said sensor. For example, when it is opposite one of the sensors 31, 32, the detection element 41 triggers the switching of the sensor in question from the first position to the second position.

[0065] For example, the positioning of the detection element 41 relative to a sensor 31, 32 triggers the switching of said sensor from the first position to the second position.

[0066] The floating body 40 may have a disc shape with a central hole through which said floating body is slidably connected to the hollow body.

[0067] The implementation of the fluid level detection means makes it possible to detect predetermined levels of a liquid likely to be present in the pressure tank 10.

[0068] For example, the predetermined levels may correspond to a first level or a second level, the second fluid level being higher than the first.

[0069] For example, the first level may be a level for which the fluid level in the pressure tank corresponds to a volume less than 20%, advantageously less than 15%, of the total volume of the pressure tank.

[0070] The second level may be a level for which the fluid level in the pressure tank corresponds to a volume of between 70% and 90% of the total volume of the pressure tank. In particular, the second level may be located upstream of the upper inlet along the direction from the lower face to the upper face.

[0071] The fluidic system 1 according to the present invention may comprise filling means 50, in particular connected to the lower inlet 15. The filling means 50 may be configured to be activated when one of the sensors changes from one of the first state and the second state to the other of the first state and the second state. By "activated" is meant a change of state of the filling means. In particular, the filling means 50 may be configured to fill the pressure tank 10 with a fluid, when the floating body 40 is in relation with the sensor 31, and to stop filling when it is in relation with the sensor 32.

[0072] By way of non-limiting examples, the filling means 50 may comprise a pump, a pressure pump, a control valve.

[0073] By way of example, the filling means may comprise a control valve configured to be activated when one of the sensors changes from one of the first state and the second state to the other of the first state and the second state. For example, the control valves may comprise a valve, said lower inlet valve 50 connected to the lower inlet 15, which is configured to be in an open state when the floating body is facing the bottom sensor and to be in a closed state as soon as the floating element reaches the upper position.

[0074] In another example, the filling means may comprise a pump, or a pressure pump, configured to be activated ("started" or "stopped") when one of the sensors transitions from one of the first state and the second state to the other of the first state and the second state.

[0075] An outlet tube 51 may be connected to the lower outlet 15. The outlet tube 51 is configured to deliver the pressurized fluid on demand.

[0076] The control valve may also comprise a valve, called the upper inlet valve 52, connected to the upper inlet 16, which is configured to deliver the pressurized fluid on demand.

[0077] [Fig. 3] shows the fluidic system 1 according to the present invention partially filled with a liquid. In particular, the liquid level at the first level requires the floating element 40 to be in the low position so that the bottom sensor 31 is in its second position. Consequently, the lower inlet valve 50 is open to allow the liquid to be filled.

[0078] The filling of the liquid triggers the rise of the floating element to the upper position. In this regard, [Fig.4] represents the fluidic system filled with liquid at an intermediate level between the first and second levels. The floating element is also located at the intermediate level.

[0079] As the liquid fills into the pressure tank 10, the floating element reaches the upper position, so that the upper sensor changes from its first state to its second state, which causes the lower inlet valve 50 to close ([Fig.5]).

[0080] Taking into account a second level located upstream of the upper inlet along the direction from the lower face to the upper face limits, or even prevents, the liquid from penetrating into the upper inlet.

[0081] In an advantageous embodiment, each sensor 31, 32 may comprise a Reed sensor, while the detection element may comprise a magnet.

[0082] The invention also relates to a fluidic assembly 100 which comprises:

[0083] - a support 110 having an elongated shape along a secondary axis YY' and anchoring sites on a front face 110a of said support;

[0084] - at least two fluidic systems 1a, 1b, 1c according to the present invention, each fluidic system being anchored on an anchoring site via anchoring means arranged on the lateral surface of the fluidic system, the lower outlet of one of the at least two fluidic systems, called main system 1a, is fluidically connected to the upper inlet of the other of the at least two fluidic systems 1b, 1c.

[0085] The fluidic assembly further comprises a compressor connected to the upper inlet of the main system, said compressor being configured to inject compressed air into the main system.

[0086] According to this configuration, the compressed air can be used to compress a liquid likely to be present in the two fluid systems 1b, 1c.

[0087] This configuration allows both air and pressurized liquid to be distributed for cleaning the sensors of a motor vehicle.

[0088] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle equipped with sensors, nozzles arranged to spray a fluid onto a sensitive surface of the sensors, the motor vehicle being further equipped with the fluidic assembly according to the present invention, the fluidic assembly being connected to the nozzles.

[0089] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and variants may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

Claims

1. A fluidic system (1) comprising - a pressure tank (10) provided with a lower inlet (14) and a lower outlet (15), both arranged on the lower face (11) of the pressure tank (10), and an upper inlet (16) arranged on the upper face (12) of the pressure tank (10), opposite the lower face (11), along a main axis XX'; - liquid level detection means which comprise - a hollow body (20) extending from either the upper (12) or lower (11) faces, along the main axis XX', inside the pressure tank (10), the hollow body (20) defining a housing (21) which is hermetically isolated from the pressure tank (10);- at least two sensors called, respectively, lower sensor (31) and upper sensor (32), located in the housing (21) at, respectively, a lower position (31a) and an upper position (31b), each sensor being configured to switch from a first state and a second state to the other of the first state and the second state; - floating body (40) located inside the pressure tank (10) and in sliding connection with the hollow body (20), the floating body (40) comprising a detection element (41) configured to, when it is opposite one of the sensors, trigger the switching of said sensor; - filling means (50) configured to be activated when one of the sensors switches from one of the first state and the second state to the other of the first state and the second state.;

2. A fluidic system (1) according to claim 1, wherein each of the two sensors comprises a reed sensor, while the sensing element (41) comprises a magnet.

3. The fluidic system (1) according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the lower position (31a) is a position defining a first level of fluid likely to be present in the pressure tank (10), while the upper position (31b) is a position defining a second level, higher than the first level, of a fluid likely to be present in the pressure tank. (10), the upper inlet (16) is located upstream of the second level along the direction from the upper face (12) to a lower face (11) so that a fluid injected at the lower inlet (14) can be detected by switching the upper sensor (32) when the second level is reached.

4. The fluidic system (1) according to claim 3, wherein the filling means (50) are connected to the lower inlet (14), and are configured to fill the pressure tank (10) with a fluid, when the floating body (40) is opposite the lower sensor (31), and stop filling when it is opposite the upper sensor (32).

5. The fluidic system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the filling means (50) comprise at least one element chosen from: a pump, a pressure pump, a control valve.

6. Fluidic system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, in which the hollow body (20) opens by the face from which it extends.

7. Fluidic system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which the hollow body (20) extends from the lower face (11).

8. A fluidic system (1) according to claims 6 or 7, wherein the sensors are integrated into an elongated body (30) inserted into the opening of the hollow body (20).

9. Fluidic system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the pressure tank (10) has a cylindrical shape extending along the main axis XX'.

10. Fluidic system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, in which the pressure tank (10) is made of plastic.

11. Fluidic system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the floating body (40) has a disc shape with a central hole through which said floating body (40) is in sliding connection with the hollow body (20).

12. A fluidic system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the pressure tank (10) comprises lateral ribs configured to improve the mechanical strength of said pressure tank (10).

13. Fluidic assembly (100) comprising: - a support (110) comprising anchoring sites; - at least two fluidic systems (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, each fluidic system (1) being anchored on an anchoring site by anchoring means, the lower outlet (15) of one of the at least two fluidic systems (1), called the main system, being fluidically connected to the upper inlet (16) of the other of the at least two fluidic systems (1).

14. The fluid assembly (100) of claim 13, wherein said fluid assembly (100) further comprises a compressor connected to the upper inlet (16) of the main system, said compressor being configured to inject compressed air into the main system.

15. The fluidic assembly (100) according to claims 13 or 14, wherein the support (110) has an elongated shape along a secondary axis YY' and the anchoring sites are located on a front face of said support (110), and the anchoring means are arranged on the lateral surface (13) of the fluidic system (1).

16. Motor vehicle equipped with sensors, nozzles arranged to spray a fluid onto a sensitive surface of the sensors, the motor vehicle is also equipped with the fluidic assembly (100) according to one of claims 13 to 15, the fluidic assembly (100) being connected to the nozzles.

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