Air-blowing device for a motor vehicle, and associated motor vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to an air-blowing device (1) for blowing air onto an optical surface (3) of a motor vehicle, the air-blowing device (1) comprising: - a blowing member (5); - a diffusion nozzle (7) comprising an air outlet (7a) arranged under the optical surface (3); - a ventilation duct (9) configured to connect an air outlet (5a) of the blowing member (5) and an air inlet (7b) of the diffusion nozzle (7), wherein the diffusion nozzle (7) comprises: - a liquid recovery cavity (13) provided under the air outlet (7a); and - an intermediate space (15) arranged between the air outlet (7a) and the recovery cavity (13), the intermediate space (15) being in fluid communication with the ventilation duct (9) via an air inlet (7b) of the diffusion nozzle (7).

Description

Air projection device for motor vehicle and associated motor vehicle

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of air projection devices for optical surfaces of motor vehicle equipment.

[0002] Motor vehicles increasingly include detection or vision equipment with a protective optical surface, the cleanliness of which affects the performance of this equipment, so it is necessary to provide a device for keeping its optical surfaces clean.

[0003] These optical surfaces can be cleaned by using nozzles for spraying cleaning liquid. However, the presence of liquid on the optical surface can also impair the operation of the detection device, so it is appropriate to provide devices that make it possible to dispense with the spraying of liquid or to dry the optical surfaces. It is thus known to use devices for spraying air onto the optical surface.

[0004] When the optical surfaces onto which air is to be projected are oriented towards the front of the vehicle, for example at the front end or the roof, the air must be projected from below the optical surface so as not to be deflected away from the optical surface by the outside air when the vehicle is moving.

[0005] However, with the projection device positioned below the optical surface, liquid, for example optical surface cleaning liquid or cleaning liquid from a high-pressure cleaner, may enter the air projection device and render it ineffective. Indeed, if liquid is present in the projection device, it is this liquid that will be projected onto the optical surface when the air projection device is subsequently used. Furthermore, a large quantity of liquid could damage the air projection device.

[0006] The aim of the present invention is therefore to find a solution making it possible to at least partially resolve the technical problems mentioned above.

[0007] To this end, the present invention relates to a device for projecting air onto an optical surface of a motor vehicle, said air projection device comprising: - a blowing member, - a diffusion nozzle comprising an air outlet arranged under the optical surface, - a ventilation duct configured to connect an air outlet of the blowing member and an air inlet of the diffusion nozzle, in which the diffusion nozzle comprises: - a liquid recovery cavity arranged under the air outlet and, - an intermediate space arranged between the air outlet and the recovery cavity, said intermediate space being in fluid communication with the ventilation duct via an air inlet of the diffusion nozzle.

[0008] The use of a projection nozzle comprising a liquid recovery cavity provided under the air outlet makes it possible to recover liquids projected onto the optical surface which flow into the projection nozzle via the air outlet and thus to avoid the presence of liquid in the air passage during subsequent use of the air projection device. This also makes it possible to prevent liquid from accumulating in the air projection nozzle and rising up to the blowing member via the ventilation duct.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present invention, the blowing member is arranged at a height greater than the recovery cavity.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, the ventilation duct is inclined at an angle greater than or equal to 5° relative to the horizontal direction, in particular greater than or equal to 10°.

[0011] According to another aspect of the present invention, the projection nozzle comprises a deflector arranged opposite the air inlet and configured to return the air from the ventilation duct to the air outlet of the diffusion nozzle.

[0012] According to another aspect of the present invention, the air projection device also comprises a liquid discharge channel in fluid communication with the recovery cavity and having a slope allowing the discharge of liquid from the liquid recovery cavity.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, the discharge channel is configured to create a Venturi effect allowing the liquid to be discharged through the discharge channel as the vehicle moves forward.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention, the diameter of the discharge channel is at least 3mm.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, the optical surface is an optical surface associated with a LIDAR type sensor or a camera or a set of sensors.

[0016] According to another aspect of the present invention, the optical surface is disposed on the roof of the vehicle.

[0017] The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising an air projection device as described previously.

[0018] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, and the appended drawings among which:

[0019] represents a schematic perspective view of a Lidar sensor and an air projection device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] represents a schematic side and sectional view of the Lidar sensor and a projection nozzle of the air projection device of the;

[0021] represents a schematic side and sectional view of the air projection nozzle of the air projection device of the;

[0022] represents another schematic perspective view of the Lidar sensor and the air projection device of the.

[0023] In these figures, identical elements have the same references.

[0024] The following embodiments are examples. Although the description refers to one or more embodiments, this does not necessarily mean that each reference relates to the same embodiment, or that the features apply only to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined or interchanged to provide other embodiments.

[0025] In this description, the terms below, under, above, front, rear, vertical, horizontal, etc. refer to the position of the elements once mounted on the motor vehicle and the latter being positioned on a horizontal plane.

[0026] The present invention relates to an air projection device for a motor vehicle, in particular for optical surfaces associated with sensors of the motor vehicle such as Lidar sensors (Laser Imaging Detection And Ranging), cameras or Laser sensors (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation). An optical surface can be associated with a plurality of sensors. Such an air projection device can also be used for cleaning or drying a windshield or a headlight lens.

[0027] The represents an air projection device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The air projection device 1 is configured to project air onto an optical surface 3 of a vehicle equipment item. In this case, the motor vehicle equipment item is a Lidar type sensor 2. However, other equipment items such as a camera, a laser sensor or any type of optical sensor or even a windshield or a headlight lens may also be the subject of an optical surface 3 associated with the present invention.

[0028] The Lidar 2 sensor and the air projection device 1 are for example positioned on the roof of the vehicle. However, other positions are also possible, such as the front of the vehicle or any other position.

[0029] The air projection device 1 comprises a blowing member such as a fan 5 (also called a blower) comprising an air outlet 5a and configured to provide an air flow at its air outlet 5a. The fan 5 comprises, for example, a bladed turbine driven by an electric motor.

[0030] In this example, the fan 5 is arranged behind the Lidar 2 type sensor. Such a location of the fan 5 makes it possible not to degrade the aerodynamics of the vehicle too much.

[0031] The air projection device 1 also comprises an air projection nozzle 7 arranged under the optical surface 3 of the Lidar sensor 2.

[0032] The projection nozzle 7 comprises an air outlet 7a configured to be oriented towards the optical surface 3. The air outlet 7a is for example arranged adjacent to the lower part of the optical surface 3. The air outlet 7a of the projection nozzle 7 preferably extends substantially over the entire width of the optical surface 3 so as to project air onto the entire optical surface 3.

[0033] The projection nozzle 7 also comprises an air inlet 7b intended to be connected to the air outlet 5a of the fan 5. The connection between the air outlet 5a of the fan 5 and the air inlet 7b of the projection nozzle 7 is for example made by a ventilation duct 9.

[0034] Preferably, the air inlet 7b is arranged at a height lower than the air outlet 5a of the fan 5 in order to avoid as much as possible any possible introduction of liquid towards the fan 5 via the ventilation duct 9 which could then damage the fan 5. The ventilation duct 9 has for example at least one part having an angle greater than 5° with respect to a horizontal direction, for example greater than 10° or 15° with respect to the horizontal direction so as to prevent the introduction of liquid from the ventilation duct 9 towards the fan 5. The fan 5 can also be inclined so as to further limit the possibility of introduction of liquid and to facilitate its attachment to the ventilation duct 9.

[0035] The ventilation duct 9 may have a variable section, for example a substantially square section at the air outlet 5a of the fan 5 and a rectangular section (whose major axis is oriented substantially horizontally) at the air inlet of the projection nozzle 7 so as to minimize the thickness of the air projection device 1 under the Lidar sensor 2. Such a configuration makes it possible to limit the impact of the air projection device 1 on the aerodynamics of the vehicle. However, other section shapes may be used and a constant section may be used for the ventilation duct 9. The air inlet 7b is oriented substantially horizontally.

[0036] The projection nozzle 7 also comprises a deflector or deflecting wall 11 (better visible in the) at least part of which is oriented substantially vertically, that is to say having an angle of less than 40° relative to the vertical so as to drive the air coming from the air inlet 7b towards the air outlet 7a of the projection nozzle 7 and to project the air towards the optical surface 3. The deflector 11 is thus configured to return the air coming from the ventilation duct 9 via the air inlet 7b towards the air outlet 7b of the diffusion nozzle 7.

[0037] The projection nozzle 7 also comprises a liquid recovery cavity 13 visible on the. The cavity 13 is arranged under the air outlet 7a and is in fluid communication with said air outlet 7a. The cavity 13 extends over the entire length of the air outlet 7a. The cavity 13 is configured to receive any liquid introduced into the projection nozzle 7 via the air outlet 7a. The cavity 13 is located at a height lower than the height of the air inlet 7b of the projection nozzle 7 so that the projection nozzle 7 has an intermediate space 15 between the air outlet 7a and the recovery cavity 13. This intermediate space 15 is in fluid communication with the ventilation duct 9 via the air inlet 7b of the diffusion nozzle 7. A transmission channel 14 is for example provided between the air inlet 7a and the intermediate space 15.

[0038] The air projection device 1 also comprises at least one liquid discharge channel 17 in fluid communication with the recovery cavity 13. In the present example, the air projection device 1 comprises two discharge channels 17 arranged on one side and the other of the cavity 13 as can be seen in the figure, but the use of a different number of discharge channels 17, for example a single discharge channel 17, is of course possible. The discharge channel(s) 17 extend from the cavity 13 to a liquid discharge zone (not shown). This liquid discharge zone may be an orifice located for example in the lower part of the vehicle and making it possible to discharge the liquid onto the roadway.

[0039] Alternatively, this discharge area can be a liquid recovery tank. The liquid can then be reused, for example, by a vehicle cleaning device, for example a device for cleaning optical surfaces such as the windshield, headlight lenses or optical sensors.

[0040] The discharge channel(s) 17 have a slope allowing the liquid to be discharged from the liquid recovery cavity 13. The slope is for example at least 2°, for example at least 5° relative to a horizontal direction. The section of the discharge channels 17 may be variable and configured to produce a Venturi effect making it possible to facilitate the transfer of the liquid to the discharge zone when the vehicle moves forward. The internal diameter of the discharge channels 17 is at least 3 mm, for example at least 5 mm.

[0041] The bottom of the cavity 13 may also have a slope to facilitate the evacuation of the liquid towards the evacuation channel(s) 17.

[0042] The air projection device 1 can be positioned at least partly in a common protective casing with the Lidar sensor 2 to improve the aerodynamics of the vehicle.

[0043] The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle equipped with an air projection device 1 as described previously.

[0044] Thus, in operation, the air flow generated by the fan 5 is transmitted to the air inlet 7b of the projection nozzle 7 via the ventilation duct 9. This air flow then passes into the intermediate space 15 of the projection nozzle where it is deflected by the deflector 11 towards the optical surface 3 of the Lidar sensor 2 via the air outlet 7a of the projection nozzle 7.

[0045] Furthermore, in the event of introduction of liquid into the projection nozzle 7 via the air inlet 7a, for example following cleaning of the Lidar sensor 2 or the presence of rain. This liquid falls or flows through the intermediate space 15, for example along the deflector 11, by gravity to the liquid recovery cavity 13. The liquid is then transmitted still by gravity to the discharge channel(s) 17. The liquid then flows in the discharge channel(s) 17 to the discharge zone.

[0046] Such a configuration thus makes it possible to evacuate the liquid even when the vehicle is stationary. In addition, this makes it possible to avoid the presence of liquid in the ventilation duct 9 and to limit as much as possible the presence of liquid in the air passage between the air inlet 7b and the air outlet 7a so that when using the air projection device 1 after cleaning the Lidar sensor 2, little or no liquid is projected onto the optical surface 3 of the Lidar sensor 2, which can in particular make it possible to effectively dry the optical surface 3.

[0047] Furthermore, such a configuration makes it possible to avoid any introduction of liquid into the fan 5 even in the event of introduction of a significant quantity of liquid into the projection nozzle 7 via its air outlet 7a (even if the reduced size of the air outlet 7a, for example a width less than 1 cm, limits the quantity of liquid that can be introduced into the projection nozzle 7). It is also possible to use a valve configured to close the air outlet 7a in the absence of air projected by the air projection device 1 and to be lifted by the projected air in the event of activation of the air projection device 1 to further limit the possibilities of introduction of liquid into the air projection nozzle 7.

Claims

Device for projecting air (1) onto an optical surface (3) of a motor vehicle, said air projection device (1) comprising: - a blowing member (5), - a diffusion nozzle (7) comprising an air outlet (7a) arranged under the optical surface (3), - a ventilation duct (9) configured to connect an air outlet (5a) of the blowing member (5) and an air inlet (7b) of the diffusion nozzle (7), characterized in that the diffusion nozzle (7) comprises: - a liquid recovery cavity (13) arranged under the air outlet (7a) and, - an intermediate space (15) arranged between the air outlet (7a) and the recovery cavity (13), said intermediate space (15) being in fluid communication with the ventilation duct (9) via an air inlet (7b) of the diffusion nozzle (7). Air projection device (1) according to the preceding claim in which the blowing member (5) is arranged at a height greater than the recovery cavity (13). Air projection device (1) according to the preceding claim in which the ventilation duct (9) is inclined at an angle greater than or equal to 5° relative to the horizontal direction, in particular greater than or equal to 10°. Air projection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the projection nozzle (7) comprises a deflector (11) arranged opposite the air inlet (7b) and configured to return the air coming from the ventilation duct (9) to the air outlet (7a) of the diffusion nozzle (7). Air projection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims also comprising a liquid discharge channel (17) in fluid communication with the recovery cavity (13) and having a slope allowing the liquid to be discharged from the liquid recovery cavity (13). Air projection device (1) according to the preceding claim in which the discharge channel (17) is configured so as to create a Venturi effect allowing the liquid to be discharged via the discharge channel (17) when the vehicle moves forward. Air projection device (1) according to claim 4 or 5 wherein the diameter of the discharge channel (17) is at least 3mm. Air projection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims in which the optical surface (3) is an optical surface associated with a LIDAR type sensor (2) or with a camera or with a set of sensors. Air projection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims wherein the optical surface (3) is arranged on the roof of the vehicle. Motor vehicle comprising an air projection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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