Vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device

Abstract

To suppress the increase of the number of components and weight.SOLUTION: An on-vehicle sensor cleaning device 10 comprises: a nozzle 18 having a jet port through which a fluid is jetted; and a housing 20 connected to the nozzle 18, and having a housing lower flow path 20E and a housing upper flow path 20C through which the fluid moving toward the nozzle 18 side passes. In addition, the on-vehicle sensor cleaning device 10 comprises an impeller 22 which is provided in the housing lower flow path 20E and operates when the fluid moving toward the nozzle 18 side strikes against it. Further, the on-vehicle sensor cleaning device 10 comprises a worm gear 34, a worm wheel 36, a rotary plate 38, and a rod 40 which are provided between the impeller 22 and the nozzle 18, and transmit the kinetic energy of the impeller 22 to the nozzle 18, thereby displacing the nozzle 18.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an on-board sensor cleaning device. [Background technology]

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a sensor system installed in a vehicle. The sensor system described in this document includes an on-board optical sensor and an on-board sensor cleaning device that cleans the optical surface of the on-board optical sensor. The on-board sensor cleaning device includes a nozzle from which air is sprayed from an outlet, a pump that supplies air to the nozzle, and a motor and a reduction mechanism that rotate the nozzle back and forth within a predetermined range. Air is supplied from the pump to the nozzle, so that air is sprayed from the nozzle outlet. In addition, the motor is operated to change the direction of the nozzle, and the direction of the air sprayed from the nozzle outlet is changed. In this way, it is possible to apply the air sprayed from the nozzle outlet to a wide range of the optical surface of the on-board optical sensor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-34712 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, the configuration of the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device described in the above Patent Document 1 is useful from the viewpoint of being able to apply the air jetted from the nozzle outlet to a wide range of the optical surface of the vehicle-mounted optical sensor. However, the configuration of the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device described in the above Patent Document 1 requires a motor to displace the nozzle, and so there is room for improvement in terms of suppressing an increase in the number of parts and weight of the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device.

[0005] In consideration of the above, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an in-vehicle sensor cleaning device that can suppress an increase in the number of parts and weight. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device (10, 44, 48, 50) that solves the above problems comprises a nozzle (18) having an injection port (16) from which a fluid is injected, an intermediate flow path section (20) connected to the nozzle and having an intermediate flow path (20C, 20E) through which the fluid flowing toward the nozzle passes, an operating section (22) provided in the intermediate flow path and activated when hit by the fluid flowing toward the nozzle, and a transmission section (24) provided between the operating section and the nozzle and for displacing the nozzle by transmitting the kinetic energy of the operating section to the nozzle.

[0007] By configuring in this manner, an increase in the number of parts and weight can be suppressed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an on-vehicle sensor and an on-vehicle sensor cleaning device according to a first embodiment; [Diagram 2] 1 is a front view showing an in-vehicle sensor cleaning device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 1 is a side view showing an in-vehicle sensor cleaning device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a plan view showing an in-vehicle sensor cleaning device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device of the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a side view showing the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device of the second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an on-vehicle sensor and an on-vehicle sensor cleaning device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a side view showing the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device of the third embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an on-vehicle sensor and an on-vehicle sensor cleaning device according to a fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] An in-vehicle sensor cleaning device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5.

[0010] As shown in Fig. 1, the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device 10 of this embodiment is for cleaning a vehicle-mounted sensor 12 provided at the front of a vehicle. The vehicle-mounted sensor 12, as an example, emits an infrared laser and receives scattered light reflected from the object to measure the distance to the object. The vehicle-mounted sensor 12 has an optical surface 14 through which the infrared laser transmits, and the optical surface 14 is directed toward the front of the vehicle. In the following description, when the front-rear, left-right, top-bottom directions are described, they are intended to indicate the front-rear, left-right, top-bottom directions of the vehicle, and the arrow FR shown in each drawing as appropriate indicates the forward direction, the arrow UP indicates the upward direction, the arrow RH indicates the rightward direction, and the arrow LH indicates the leftward direction, respectively.

[0011] 2 to 5, the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device 10 includes a nozzle 18 having an injection port 16 from which compressed air is injected, a housing 20 serving as an intermediate flow path through which fluid flows toward the nozzle 18, and an impeller 22 serving as an actuator provided in the housing 20. The vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device 10 also includes a transmission unit 24 that transmits kinetic energy accompanying the rotation of the impeller 22 to the nozzle 18, thereby displacing the nozzle 18.

[0012] 3 and 5, the nozzle 18 is formed in a tubular shape with its front end bent downward into an L-shape. An opening formed in the front end of the nozzle 18 serves as an outlet 16 from which compressed air is injected. The nozzle 18 is connected to a housing 20 (described later) via a connecting hose 26.

[0013] The housing 20 comprises an upper housing portion 20A formed in a cylindrical shape with the axial direction being the front-to-rear direction, and a lower housing portion 20B arranged below the upper housing portion 20A and formed integrally with the upper housing portion 20A.

[0014] The housing upper part 20A is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape with an open front side and a closed rear side. A worm gear 34 and a worm wheel 36 constituting a part of a transmission part 24 described later are provided inside the housing upper part 20A. A first cover plate 28 is attached to the front end of the housing upper part 20A. As a result, the front end side of the housing upper part 20A is closed by the first cover plate 28. Here, the space inside the housing upper part 20A is the housing upper flow path 20C as an intermediate flow path through which compressed air passes. The housing upper part 20A is also provided with a cylindrical nozzle connection part 20D protruding upward. The nozzle connection part 20D is connected to the housing upper flow path 20C. A connecting hose 26 is also connected to the nozzle connection part 20D.

[0015] The housing lower part 20B is formed in a box shape with an open lower side. An impeller 22, which will be described later, is provided inside the housing lower part 20B. A second cover plate 30 is attached to the lower end of the housing lower part 20B. As a result, the lower end side of the housing lower part 20B is closed by the second cover plate 30. Here, the space inside the housing lower part 20B is a lower housing flow path 20E as an intermediate flow path through which compressed air passes. The lower housing flow path 20E and the upper housing flow path 20C are connected via a communication hole formed at the boundary between the upper housing part 20A and the lower housing part 20B. At the boundary between the upper housing part 20A and the lower housing part 20B, an insertion hole is formed through which an engagement part 22B between the impeller 22 and the worm gear 34, which will be described later, is inserted. The housing lower part 20B is also provided with a cylindrical pump connection part 20F that protrudes toward the rear side. The pump connection part 20F is connected to the lower housing flow path 20E. A pump (not shown) is connected to the pump connection portion 20F via a connecting hose (not shown), which allows compressed air from the pump to be supplied to the lower housing flow path 20E of the lower housing portion 20B.

[0016] The impeller 22 includes a disk portion 22A formed in a disk shape with the thickness direction being the up-down direction, an engagement portion 22B protruding upward from the center of the disk portion 22A, and three blades 22C protruding downward from the disk portion 22A and arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the disk portion. The impeller 22 is supported rotatably with the up-down direction as the rotation axis direction via the first shaft member 32. The up-down position of the blades 22C of the impeller 22 and the up-down position of the pump connection portion 20F of the housing lower portion 20B are approximately the same. This allows the compressed air supplied from the pump connection portion 20F to the housing lower flow path 20E of the housing lower portion 20B to hit the blades 22C of the impeller 22.

[0017] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the transmission section 24 is composed of a worm gear 34 that rotates integrally with the impeller 22, a worm wheel 36 that meshes with the worm gear 34, a rotating plate 38 that rotates integrally with the worm wheel 36, and a rod 40 that connects the rotating plate 38 and the nozzle 18.

[0018] The worm gear 34, which constitutes a part of the reduction gear section, is disposed in the housing upper portion 20A of the housing 20. The lower end of the worm gear 34 is engaged with the engagement portion 22B of the impeller 22. The worm gear 34 is supported via the first shaft member 32 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the vertical direction. The worm gear 34 has a spiral tooth portion formed on its outer periphery.

[0019] The worm wheel 36, which constitutes another part of the reduction gear section, is disposed within the housing upper portion 20A of the housing 20. A plurality of external teeth that mesh with the teeth of the worm gear 34 are formed on the outer periphery of the worm wheel 36. A second shaft member 42 is fixed to the axial center of the worm wheel 36. The rear end of the second shaft member 42 is supported by the housing upper portion 20A, and the front end side of the second shaft member 42 is supported by the first cover plate 28 in a state in which it penetrates the first cover plate 28. As a result, the worm wheel 36 is supported rotatably with the front-rear direction as the rotation axis direction.

[0020] The rotating plate 38, which constitutes a part of the oscillating part, is disposed outside the housing 20 and in front of the first cover plate 28. The rotating plate 38 includes a rotating plate main body 38A formed in a disk shape with the thickness direction being in the front-rear direction, and a rod engagement part 38B protruding forward from a radially outer part on the front surface of the rotating plate main body 38A. The shaft core part of the rotating plate main body 38A is fixed to the front end part of the second shaft member 42. This allows the rotating plate 38 and the worm wheel 36 to rotate integrally.

[0021] The rod 40, which constitutes another part of the swinging part, is formed in a rectangular plate shape. The rod 40 has an engagement hole 40A formed in a long hole shape along the longitudinal direction of the rod 40. The rod engagement part 38B of the rotation plate 38 is inserted into the lower end side of the engagement hole 40A. The nozzle 18 is inserted into the upper end of the engagement hole 40A and is engaged therewith.

[0022] (Actions and Effects of the Present Embodiment) Next, the operation and effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0023] As shown in Figures 2 to 5, in the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device 10 of the present embodiment described above, compressed air is supplied from the pump connection portion 20F of the housing 20 to the lower housing flow path 20E of the lower housing portion 20B, and when this compressed air hits the blades 22C of the impeller 22, the impeller 22 rotates.

[0024] When the impeller 22 rotates, the worm gear 34, which is provided so as to be rotatable integrally with the impeller 22, also rotates. When the worm gear 34 rotates, the worm wheel 36, which meshes with the worm gear 34, also rotates. When the worm wheel 36 rotates, the rotating plate 38, which is provided so as to be rotatable integrally with the worm wheel 36, also rotates. In this way, the rotation of the impeller 22 is decelerated by the worm gear 34 and the worm wheel 36 and transmitted to the rotating plate 38.

[0025] Furthermore, when the rotary plate 38 rotates, the lower end side of the rod 40 is repeatedly displaced in the left-right direction, whereby the nozzle 18 engaged with the rod 40 is repeatedly swung in the left-right direction.

[0026] On the other hand, compressed air supplied from the pump connection portion 20F of the housing 20 to the lower housing flow path 20E of the housing lower portion 20B is ejected from the nozzle 16 of the nozzle 18 through the upper housing flow path 20C, the connecting hose 26, and the nozzle 18. By repeatedly swinging the nozzle 18 left and right while the compressed air is being ejected from the nozzle 16 of the nozzle 18, the compressed air ejected from the nozzle 16 of the nozzle 18 can be directed over a wide range on both sides of the optical surface 14 of the vehicle-mounted sensor 12, as shown in FIG.

[0027] Here, in the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device 10 of this embodiment, the kinetic energy of the impeller 22 rotated by compressed air is transmitted to the nozzle 18 to displace the nozzle 18. This makes it unnecessary to provide a motor for displacing the nozzle 18, and it is possible to suppress an increase in the number of parts and weight of the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device 10. Furthermore, since it is unnecessary to provide a motor for displacing the nozzle 18, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device 10.

[0028] In this embodiment, the rotation of the impeller 22 is reduced in speed by the worm gear 34 and the worm wheel 36 and is then transmitted to the rotating plate 38. This allows the nozzle 18 to oscillate at a desired cycle.

[0029] (Second embodiment of on-vehicle sensor cleaning device 44) Next, an in-vehicle sensor washing apparatus 44 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Note that in the in-vehicle sensor washing apparatus 44 according to the second embodiment, members and parts corresponding to those of the in-vehicle sensor washing apparatus 10 of the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals as those of the in-vehicle sensor washing apparatus 10 of the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof may be omitted.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 6, the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device 44 of this embodiment is characterized in that, in addition to the configuration of the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device 10 of the first embodiment, a bypass pipe 46 is provided as a bypass flow path portion. The bypass pipe 46 is formed in a cylindrical shape with the inside thereof being a bypass flow path 46A. One end of the bypass pipe 46 is connected to a bypass pipe connection portion 20G provided in the housing lower portion 20B of the housing 20. This bypass pipe connection portion 20G is connected to the housing lower flow path 20E. The other end of the bypass pipe 46 is connected to the middle portion of the nozzle 18.

[0031] In the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device 44 of the present embodiment described above, compressed air supplied from the pump connection portion 20F of the housing 20 to the lower housing flow path 20E of the housing lower portion 20B can flow to the nozzle 18 side through the upper housing flow path 20C and the connecting hose 26. In addition, compressed air supplied from the pump connection portion 20F of the housing 20 to the lower housing flow path 20E of the housing lower portion 20B can flow to the nozzle 18 side through the detour flow path 46A of the bypass pipe 46. As a result, in the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device 44 of the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress weakening of the momentum of the compressed air injected from the injection port 16 of the nozzle 18, compared to the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device 10 of the first embodiment described above.

[0032] (Third embodiment of on-vehicle sensor cleaning device 48) Next, an on-vehicle sensor washing device 48 according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8. Note that in the on-vehicle sensor washing device 48 according to the third embodiment, components and parts corresponding to those of the above-described on-vehicle sensor washing devices 10, 44 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those corresponding to those of the above-described on-vehicle sensor washing devices 10, 44, and descriptions thereof may be omitted.

[0033] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device 48 of this embodiment is characterized in that an inner axial flow path 42A through which compressed air passes is provided in the second axial member 42, and that a nozzle 18 is attached to the front end of the second axial member 42.

[0034] 8, an opening 42B on one side of the shaft inner flow passage 42A opens radially outward from an axial middle portion of the second shaft member 42 and is connected to the upper-housing flow passage 20C of the housing 20. An opening 42C on the other side of the shaft inner flow passage 42A opens forward from the front end portion of the second shaft member 42 and is connected to the nozzle 18.

[0035] In the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device 48 of the present embodiment described above, compressed air is supplied from the pump connection portion 20F of the housing 20 to the lower housing flow path 20E of the lower housing portion 20B, and when this compressed air hits the blades 22C of the impeller 22, the impeller 22 rotates.

[0036] When the impeller 22 rotates, the worm gear 34, which is provided so as to be rotatable integrally with the impeller 22, also rotates. When the worm gear 34 rotates, the worm wheel 36, which meshes with the worm gear 34, rotates. When the worm wheel 36 rotates, the second shaft member 42, which is provided so as to be rotatable integrally with the worm wheel 36, also rotates. In this manner, the rotation of the impeller 22 is reduced in speed by the worm gear 34 and the worm wheel 36 and transmitted to the second shaft member 42.

[0037] Furthermore, when the second shaft member 42 rotates, the nozzle 18 attached to the front end portion of the second shaft member 42 rotates in one direction.

[0038] On the other hand, compressed air supplied from the pump connection portion 20F of the housing 20 to the lower housing flow path 20E of the housing lower portion 20B is ejected from the nozzle 16 of the nozzle 18 through the upper housing flow path 20C, the inner shaft flow path 42A, and the nozzle 18. Then, by rotating the nozzle 18 in one direction while the compressed air is ejected from the nozzle 16 of the nozzle 18, the compressed air ejected from the nozzle 16 of the nozzle 18 can be applied to a wide range on both sides of the optical surface 14 of the vehicle-mounted sensor 12, as shown in Fig. 7. Also in this embodiment, it is not necessary to provide a motor for displacing the nozzle 18, and an increase in the number of parts and weight of the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device 10 can be suppressed.

[0039] (Fourth embodiment of vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device 50) Next, an on-vehicle sensor washing apparatus 50 according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Note that in the on-vehicle sensor washing apparatus 50 according to the fourth embodiment, members and parts corresponding to the above-described on-vehicle sensor washing apparatuses 10, 44, 48 are given the same reference numerals as the members and parts corresponding to the above-described on-vehicle sensor washing apparatuses 10, 44, 48, and descriptions thereof may be omitted.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 9, the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device 50 of this embodiment is used to clean the optical surface 14 of the vehicle-mounted sensor 12 which is formed in a cylindrical shape with its axial direction extending in the up-down direction.

[0041] The vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device 50 of this embodiment is configured in the same manner as the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device 48 of the third embodiment described above, except that the nozzle 18 is used in a position positioned downward relative to the housing 20 and the shape of the nozzle 18 is different.

[0042] The nozzle 18 includes a first nozzle portion 18A extending downward from the front end portion (see FIG. 8) of the second shaft member 42, and a second nozzle portion 18B extending from a lower end of the first nozzle portion 18A toward the radially outer side of the second shaft member 42. The nozzle 18 also includes a third nozzle portion 18C extending downward from an end of the second nozzle portion 18B opposite to the first nozzle portion 18A. A tip (lower end) of the third nozzle portion 18C is disposed above the optical surface 14 of the vehicle-mounted sensor 12.

[0043] In the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device 50 of the present embodiment described above, the nozzle 18 rotates in one direction while compressed air is sprayed from the nozzle 16 of the nozzle 18, so that the compressed air sprayed from the nozzle 16 of the nozzle 18 can be directed around the entire circumferential surface 14 of the vehicle-mounted sensor 12.

[0044] In the above-described embodiments of the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device 10, 44, 48, 50, an example has been described in which the worm gear 34 and the worm wheel 36 are provided to reduce the rotation speed of the impeller 22, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. Depending on the period for oscillating the nozzle 18 and the rotation speed of the nozzle 18, the rotation speed of the impeller 22 may be transmitted to the nozzle 18 without being reduced.

[0045] In addition, in each of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning devices 10, 44, 48, and 50, the nozzle 18 is displaced by rotating the impeller 22 with compressed air, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the nozzle 18 may be displaced by moving an operating part in place of the impeller 22 with compressed air.

[0046] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments of the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning devices 10, 44, 48, and 50, the impeller 22 is rotated by compressed air and the optical surface 14 of the vehicle-mounted sensor 12 is cleaned by compressed air, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the impeller 22 may be rotated by a cleaning liquid and the optical surface 14 of the vehicle-mounted sensor 12 may be cleaned by the cleaning liquid.

[0047] While one embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above, and it goes without saying that the present disclosure can be implemented in various other modified forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 10 on-vehicle sensor cleaning device, 16 injection port, 18 nozzle, 20 housing (middle flow path section), 20C housing upper flow path (middle flow path), 20E housing lower flow path (middle flow path), 22 impeller (operating section), 24 transmission section, 34 worm gear (speed reduction section), 36 worm wheel (speed reduction section), 38 rotating plate (oscillating section), 40 rod (oscillating section), 44 on-vehicle sensor cleaning device, 46 bypass pipe (detour flow path section), 46A detour flow path, 48 on-vehicle sensor cleaning device, 50 on-vehicle sensor cleaning device

Claims

1. a nozzle (18) having an ejection port (16) through which a fluid is ejected; an intermediate flow path portion (20) connected to the nozzle and having an intermediate flow path (20C, 20E) through which a fluid passing toward the nozzle side passes; an actuating portion (22) provided in the intermediate flow path and actuated when a fluid heading toward the nozzle hits the actuating portion; a transmission part (24) provided between the operating part and the nozzle, the transmission part displaces the nozzle by transmitting the kinetic energy of the operating part to the nozzle; Equipped with The operating portion is an impeller (22) that rotates when struck by a fluid moving toward the nozzle side, The transmission unit includes a swinging unit (38, 40) that swings the nozzle by transmitting the rotational force of the impeller to the nozzle.

2. A nozzle (18) having an injection port (16) from which a fluid is injected; an intermediate flow path portion (20) connected to the nozzle and having an intermediate flow path (20C, 20E) through which a fluid passing toward the nozzle side passes; an actuating portion (22) provided in the intermediate flow path and actuated when a fluid heading toward the nozzle hits the actuating portion; a transmission part (24) provided between the operating part and the nozzle, the transmission part displaces the nozzle by transmitting the kinetic energy of the operating part to the nozzle; Equipped with The operating portion is an impeller that rotates when struck by a fluid moving toward the nozzle, The transmission unit transmits the rotational force of the impeller to the nozzle, thereby rotating the nozzle.

3. A nozzle (18) having an injection port (16) from which a fluid is injected; an intermediate flow path portion (20) connected to the nozzle and having an intermediate flow path (20C, 20E) through which a fluid passing toward the nozzle side passes; an actuating portion (22) provided in the intermediate flow path and actuated when a fluid heading toward the nozzle hits the actuating portion; a transmission part (24) provided between the operating part and the nozzle, the transmission part displaces the nozzle by transmitting the kinetic energy of the operating part to the nozzle; Equipped with The vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device further comprises a bypass flow path portion (46) through which the fluid flowing toward the nozzle side passes and which has a bypass flow path (46A) provided independently of the intermediate flow path.

4. 3. The vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission section includes a speed reducer section (34, 36) that reduces the speed of rotation of the impeller.

5. 4. The vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid injected from the injection port and the fluid that activates the actuator are compressed air supplied to the intermediate flow path.

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