Fluid distribution assembly for the cleaning of a sensor of a vehicle

Abstract

The invention concerns a fluid distribution assembly (1) for the cleaning of a surface of a sensor of an automotive vehicle, the fluid distribution assembly (1) comprising: - a high-pressure source (10) configured to deliver a fluid under pressure; - a nozzle (13) provided with a valve; - a hose fluidically connecting the high-pressure source (10) and the valve so that, when the valve is in a closed state, the fluid delivered by the high-pressure source (10) can be accumulated in said hose, and sprayed under high pressure to the surface of the sensor by the nozzle (13) when the valve is in an open state.

Description

Fluid distribution assembly for the cleaning of a sensor of a vehicleFIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the vehicle cleaning assembly and the cleaning method thereof. In particular, the present invention concerns a fluid distribution assembly configured for cleaning at least one sensor of an automotive vehicle and in particular an autonomous vehicle.

[0002] Notably, the present invention aims at proposing a fluid distribution assembly for which the reaction time is shorter than fluid distribution assemblies known from prior art, and require reduced space for their installation.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

[0003] Automotive vehicles are now equipped with many sensors, cameras, lidars or radars (hereinafter "sensors") for driving assistance purposes. These sensors may be located inside or outside the vehicle in order to offer the driver a complete visibility of the environment in which the vehicle is located. For example, sensors may be located in the bumper, in the side-skirt, on the side mirror, behind the windshield, under the hood, nearby the headlamps, on a roof pod.

[0004] However, these sensors, exposed to the environment, are likely to be covered with dirt or dust, and consequently may encounter performance degradations. Frequent cleanings of these sensors are therefore required to guarantee their performances.

[0005] In this respect, automotive vehicles may be provided with a cleaning system equipped in particular with cleaning fluid distribution ducts and nozzles. The nozzles are notably arranged at the ends of the fluid distribution ducts and in close proximity of the sensors. According to this arrangement, it is possible to dispense a cleaning fluid on the surface of each of the sensors and thus remove traces of dust or dirt.

[0006] To this regard, fluid distribution systems known from the prior are disclosed in documents US 2020 / 361421, WO2018188823 and WO2019029915. Such fluid distribution systems are arranged for the cleaning of surface sensors disposed all around the perimeter of the automotive vehicle.

[0007] However, such fluid distribution system may not be optimum in terms of response time.

[0008] Indeed, and notably in the case of autonomous vehicles, frequent sensor cleanings may be required to limit the downtime of sensors, and to meet the safety requirements associated with the driving of an autonomous vehicle.

[0009] It is furthermore of paramount to the space needed for the installation of the fluid distribution assembly.

[0010] One purpose of the present invention is to propose a fluid distribution assembly for the cleaning of sensors for which response time is shorter than fluid distribution assemblies known from prior art.

[0011] Another purpose of the present invention is also to propose a fluid distribution assembly for the cleaning of sensors which requires a limited space.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention concerns a fluid distribution assembly for the cleaning of a surface of a sensor of an automotive vehicle, the fluid distribution assembly comprising:

[0013] - a high pressure source configured to deliver a fluid under pressure ;

[0014] - a nozzle provided with a valve ;

[0015] - a hose fluidically connecting the high-pressure source and the valve so that, when the valve is in a closed state, the fluid delivered by the high-pressure source can be accumulated in said hose, and sprayed under high pressure to the surface of the sensor by the nozzle when the valve is in an open state.

[0016] It is understood that “ a nozzle provided with a valve” has the same meaning than “a valve provided with a nozzle” ;

[0017] According to one embodiment, the high-pressure source comprises a pressure tank configured to be filled with a fluid under high pressure, advantageously the high pressure is above 3 bars, more advantageously above 4 bars.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the high-pressure source comprises a compressor configured to pressurize the fluid.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the hose has an internal diameter below 4.5 mm.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the hose further comprises an additional volume.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the additional volume is a secondary reservoir.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the additional volume is in close proximity of the valve, advantageously, the hose length in between the valve and the additional volume is below 100 mm.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the fluid comprises air.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the sensor is a camera.

[0025] The invention also comprises an automotive vehicle which comprises at least one sensor, and the fluid distribution assembly according to the present invention.DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Other features and advantages will be better understood after reading the following description of the fluid distribution assembly for the cleaning of surface sensor of a vehicle according to the invention, provided as non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0027] is a schematical representation of an isolated fluid distribution assembly according to the present invention;

[0028] is a representation of a nozzle equipped with a valve and positioned in close proximity of the sensitive surface of a sensor;

[0029] is a representation of an automotive vehicle provided with the fluid distribution assembly according to the present invention.DETAILLED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] The present invention concerns a fluid distribution assembly, and notably a fluid distribution assembly for the cleaning of a sensor of an automotive vehicle.

[0031] In particular, the fluid distribution assembly comprises:

[0032] - a high pressure source configured to deliver a fluid under pressure ;

[0033] - a nozzle provided with a valve ;

[0034] - a hose fluidically connecting the high-pressure source and the valve so that, when the valve is in a closed state, the fluid delivered by the high-pressure source can be accumulated in said hose, and sprayed under high pressure to the surface of the sensor by the nozzle when the valve is in an open state.

[0035] Figures 1 and 3 show an example of a fluid distribution assembly 1 for the cleaning of a sensor of an automotive vehicle 100.

[0036] The fluid distribution assembly 1 comprises a high-pressure source 10 to deliver a fluid under pressure. The high-pressure source 10 can comprise a compressor 11, and, in particular, a compressor 11 combined with a pressure tank 12. Notably, the pressure tank 12 may be configured to store a fluid, and in particular a gas, under pressure. Furthermore, the compressor may be configured to build the fluid pressure in the pressure tank 12.

[0037] Advantageously, the pressure tank 12 is configured to be filled with a fluid under high pressure, advantageously the high pressure is above 3 bars, more advantageously above 4 bars.

[0038] The fluid distribution assembly 1 comprises at least one nozzle 13 (illustrated in). Notably, the nozzle 13 is located in close proximity of a sensitive surface of a sensor 2 so that said nozzle can spray a fluid on said surface to remove dust or particles form said surface.

[0039] The nozzle 13 is advantageously provided with a valve 14, and notably an electronically controlled valve. In particular, the valve 14 can adopt one or the other of an open state and a close state.

[0040] The fluid distribution assembly 1 further comprises a hose 16 fluidically connecting the high-pressure source and the valve 14 so that, when the valve 14 is in a closed state, the fluid delivered by the high-pressure source can be accumulated in said hose, and sprayed under high pressure to the surface of the sensor by the nozzle when the valve is in an open state. The hose 16 has advantageously an internal diameter below 4.5 mm.

[0041] The hose 16 can further comprise an additional volume, for example a secondary reservoir 15. advantageously the additional volume is in close proximity of the valve. In particular, the hose length in between the valve and the additional volume is below 100 mm.

[0042] The fluid distribution assembly 1 according to the present invention allows the cleaning of sensors in a quite short reaction time. The high-pressure cleaning further provides high efficiency for recovering the cleaned sensor signal. The fluid distribution assembly also requires rather low installation efforts and a reduced space.

Claims

A fluid distribution assembly (1) for the cleaning of a surface of a sensor of an automotive vehicle, the fluid distribution assembly (1) comprising:- a high-pressure source (10) configured to deliver a fluid under pressure ;- a nozzle (13) provided with a valve (14) ;- a hose fluidically connecting the high-pressure source (10) and the valve (14) so that, when the valve (14) is in a closed state, the fluid delivered by the high-pressure source (10) can be accumulated in said hose, and sprayed under high pressure to the surface of the sensor by the nozzle (13) when the valve is in an open state.The fluid distribution assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the high-pressure source (10) comprises a pressure tank (12) configured to be filled with a fluid under high pressure, advantageously the high pressure is above 3 bars, more advantageously above 4 bars.The fluid distribution assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the high-pressure source (10) comprises a compressor (11) configured to pressurize the fluid.The fluid distribution assembly (1) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the hose has an internal diameter below 4.5 mm.The fluid distribution assembly (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the hose further comprises an additional volume.The fluid distribution assembly (1) according to claim 5, wherein the additional volume is a secondary reservoir (15).The fluid distribution assembly (1) according to the claim 5 or 6, wherein the additional volume is in close proximity of the valve, advantageously, the hose length in between the valve and the additional volume is below 100 mm.The fluid distribution assembly (1) according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the fluid comprises air.The fluid distribution assembly (1) according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the sensor is a camera.An automotive vehicle (100) which comprises at least one sensor, and the fluid distribution assembly (1) according to any of claims 1 to 9.

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