Suction device, detection system, and vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a suction device (20) for a detection system of a motor vehicle, the device comprising a chamber (22), at least one fluid inlet (24) for introducing fluid into the chamber, at least one air outlet (26) for directing air from the chamber, towards the detection system, at least one liquid discharge opening (28) for discharging liquid from the chamber, the chamber (22) being shaped to collect liquid from the at least one fluid inlet (24) and shaped so that the liquid flows towards the at least one liquid discharge opening (28). The invention also relates to a detection system and to a vehicle. The invention enables suitable air to be supplied to the detection system.

Description

Suction device, detection system, vehicle Field of invention

[0001] The invention relates to a suction device, a detection system and a vehicle. State of the art

[0002] Some vehicles have an optical sensor on their roof to detect the environment and ensure a degree of autonomy for the vehicle. These sensors need to be cleaned to function optimally. Cleaning them may involve a combination of washing and drying. For drying, there is a suction problem.

[0003] There is therefore a need for appropriate suction to allow drying of these sensors.

[0004] For this purpose, the invention proposes a suction device for a detection system of a motor vehicle, comprising a chamber, at least one fluid inlet into the chamber, at least one air outlet from the chamber, towards the detection system, at least one orifice for discharging liquid from the chamber, the chamber being shaped for the recovery of liquid coming from the at least one fluid inlet and shaped for the flow of the liquid towards the at least one liquid discharge orifice.

[0005] According to one embodiment, the at least one fluid inlet is a series of slots or oblong holes.

[0006] Alternatively, the slits are vertical.

[0007] According to one variant, the device further comprises at least one filter, the filter being capable of allowing air to pass towards the at least one outlet and of retaining the liquid.

[0008] According to one variant, the device further comprises a fluid circulation baffle in the chamber.

[0009] According to one variant, the baffle is formed by a partition interposed between the at least one fluid inlet and the at least one air outlet.

[0010] According to one variant, the at least one fluid inlet is offset relative to the at least one air outlet, the offset being transverse relative to the direction of admission of the fluid into the device.

[0011] According to one variant, the liquid discharge orifice is at the level of the bottom of the chamber, the bottom of the chamber being shaped as a bowl for the discharge of the liquid towards the at least one liquid discharge orifice, the at least one air outlet is located in the upper part of the chamber.

[0012] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle detection system, comprising an environment detection sensor, a blowing member for drying the sensor and a suction device as described previously, the suction device being capable of conveying air to the blowing member via the at least one air outlet of the chamber.

[0013] According to one variant, the system comprises a cover covering the sensor, the blowing member and the suction device, the at least one fluid inlet and the at least one liquid discharge orifice being through the cover.

[0014] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising the detection system as described above.

[0015] According to one variant, the sensor is turned towards the front of the vehicle and the at least one air intake is turned towards one side of the vehicle and / or towards the rear of the vehicle, relative to the direction of travel of the vehicle.

[0016] All of the preferred embodiments and all of the advantages of the suction device according to the invention are transposed mutatis mutandis to the present detection system and to the motor vehicle, and vice versa. The different embodiments can be taken in combination or considered in isolation. Brief description of the figures

[0017] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended figures which show:

[0018] , is a view of a roof detection system;

[0019] , is a view of a device according to the invention;

[0020] , is a view of the device according to the invention;

[0021] , is a view of another embodiment of the device according to the invention.

[0022] The drawings of the figures are not to scale. Like elements are generally denoted by like references in the figures. For the purposes of this document, identical or similar elements may bear the same references. Furthermore, the presence of reference numbers or letters in the drawings cannot be considered as limiting, including when these numbers or letters are indicated in the claims.

[0023] Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

[0024] The invention provides a suction device for a detection system of a motor vehicle. The device comprises a chamber, at least one fluid inlet into the chamber, at least one air outlet from the chamber, towards the detection system, and at least one orifice for discharging liquid from the chamber. The chamber is shaped for the recovery of liquid coming from the at least one fluid inlet and shaped for the flow of the liquid towards the at least one liquid discharge orifice. The device allows an appropriate supply of air to the detection system, which makes it possible to dry an optical sensor of the motor vehicle. In addition, the device makes it possible to convey dry air to the detection system, so as not to damage the detection system.

[0025] The shows a view of a roof detection system 10 for a motor vehicle. The vehicle may be a light vehicle (car) or a heavy goods vehicle (truck, coach). The system 10 comprises at least one optical sensor 12 (visible on the) with an optical surface 14. The sensor 12 may be a means of assisting in driving and / or maneuvering the vehicle. It may be a means of transmitting and / or receiving signals (such as a sensor, an optical sensor, for example a LIDAR, acronym for "light detection and ranging" or "laser imaging, detection, and ranging"). The sensor 12 interacts with the environment through the surface 14. It may be a protective surface between the sensor 12 and the environment. For example, it may be the surface of a window provided between the sensor 12 and the environment, or a surface of a housing enclosing a sensor 12 (such as a face of a LIDAR housing).The surface 14 may be transparent to the emission and reception wavelengths of the optical element.

[0026] The sensor 12 makes it possible to detect the environment of the vehicle. This may be the front, rear and / or lateral environment of the vehicle. The sensor 12 may be positioned at the front or rear of the vehicle. As another example, the surface 14 may be close to a glazed surface of the vehicle which may be the front window (or windshield) or rear window of the vehicle. The surface 14 may be adjacent to the glazed surface. The optical surface 14 may be downstream (or upstream, for a rear window) of the glazed surface, depending on the direction of travel of the vehicle. The surface 14 may be at the top of the glazed surface, or preferably at the level of the roof of the vehicle.

[0027] In addition to the sensor 12, the system 10 comprises a blowing member 18 and a suction device 20. Figures 2 and 3 show a view of the suction device 20 according to one embodiment and 1 shows a view of the suction device 20 according to another embodiment. In order for the sensor 12 – for example of the LIDAR type – to function optimally, it is intended to clean it. Cleaning the sensor comprises a combined action of a sensor washing function and a sensor drying function. The “drying” function of the sensor is provided by the blowing member 18. The blowing member can also be referred to as a “clearing” system. For example, the blowing member can be a fan. To be effective, the blowing member is placed in the immediate vicinity of the sensor 12, in particular on the roof of the vehicle. The system 10 is covered by a hood 16.The cover 16 is an appearance part also providing protection against possible liquid particles that could damage the blowing member 18. Encapsulating the blowing member 18 under the cover 16 means that there is not enough incoming air flow to ensure its operation. To ensure proper operation of the blowing member 18, the suction device 20 provides an air inlet (or air ventilation) appropriate to the blowing flow rate desired by the blowing member 18.

[0028] The suction device 20 allows air to be sucked into the detection system 10. The device 20 comprises a chamber 22. The chamber 22 is delimited by the hood 16 – possibly towards the rear, the sides and the top of the vehicle. The chamber 22 allows the suction or introduction of a volume of air under the hood 16, on the one hand for the routing of air towards the blowing member 18 and on the other hand for the retention – then the evacuation – of liquid in order to protect the blowing member 18. The chamber 20 can also be delimited by a wall 27. The wall 27 is for example transverse to the direction of travel of the vehicle. The wall 27 delimits the interior of the chamber and a compartment of the detection system 10 – under the cover 16. The wall 27 delimits a wet zone in the chamber 22 where a fluid comprising air and / or liquid comes from outside the cover 16 and a dry zone under the cover with the compartment where the blowing member 18 is located.The wet area may be further to the rear of the vehicle and the dry area further to the front of the vehicle, on either side of the wall 27. The wet area may, on the contrary, be further to the front of the vehicle and the dry area further to the rear of the vehicle. The wet area may also be on the sides of the vehicle and the dry area adapted accordingly.

[0029] The suction device 20 also comprises at least one fluid inlet 24 in the chamber 22. By fluid is meant air and liquid. The liquid is for example water. Even if the function of the device 20 is the conveyance of air to the blowing member, the air inlet is generally combined with the liquid inlet – depending on the weather conditions. The liquid can enter the chamber as being suspended in the air, as coming from rain or the like. The liquid can for example also trickle down the cover 16 and enter the chamber 22. However, the device 20 allows the establishment of a specific suction or ventilation which prevents the liquid from infiltrating as far as the blowing member 18. The at least one inlet 24 can be arranged through the cover 16. This is a suction grid. The at least one inlet 24 allows air to be sucked into the detection system, inside the cover 16.The at least one inlet 24 may open into the chamber 22 in the direction of travel of the vehicle or in an inclined direction or even transverse to the direction of travel of the vehicle. The at least one inlet 24 may be a series of slots (as can be seen in the) or oblong holes (as can be seen in the). The orientation of the slots may be diverse. The slots may be, for example, vertical, horizontal or oblique. The shape and surface area of ​​the inlet 24 are determined by the desired air flow rate for the blowing member 18.

[0030] The suction device 20 further comprises at least one air outlet 26. The air outlet 26 allows the air to be conveyed to the blowing member 18. The outlet 26 allows the air to circulate in the detection system 10. The outlet 26 allows the air to circulate to the detection system 10, more specifically, downstream of the detection system 10. This ensures the quality drying function. The outlet 26 allows the air to pass through to the blowing member. The outlet 26 is intended to convey only air to the blowing member 18, the liquid being retained within the chamber 22 – before being evacuated. The outlet 26 is in the upper part of the chamber 22, so that the air can pass through but the liquid is retained in the chamber. The air outlet 26 can be provided through the wall 27 of the chamber 22.The at least one outlet 26 is provided in the wall 27 in the direction of travel of the vehicle or in an inclined direction or even transverse to the direction of travel of the vehicle. The at least one outlet 26 may be one or more openings (two openings as seen in the) or one or more oblong openings (one opening as seen in the). The orientation of the openings may be diverse. The openings may be vertical, horizontal or oblique. According to the, these are two openings – vertical – on either side of the wall 27. According to the, this is an oblong opening – horizontal – in the upper part of the wall 27, possibly at the junction with the cover 16. The shape and surface area of ​​the outlet 26 are determined by the air flow rate desired for the blowing member 18 – the shapes and surfaces of the inlet 24 and the outlet 26 are correlated according to the air flow rate desired for the blowing member 18.

[0031] The suction device 20 also comprises at least one orifice 28 for discharging liquid from the chamber 22. The orifice 28 allows the evacuation of the liquid retained in the chamber 22, in order to prevent any possible damage to the blowing member 18 by the liquid. The orifice 28 allows the liquid to be discharged to the outside. The at least one orifice 28 may be provided through the hood 16, in the direction of travel of the vehicle or in an inclined direction or even transverse to the direction of travel of the vehicle. As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the at least one liquid discharge orifice 28 may be an oblong opening through which the liquid flows by gravity from the chamber 22. It may also be a plurality of openings.

[0032] To promote the delivery of dry air to the blowing member 18, the at least one fluid inlet 24 is offset relative to the at least one air outlet 26, the offset being transverse relative to the direction of admission of the fluid into the device. The inlet and outlet openings are offset relative to each other laterally, upwards or downwards relative to the direction of travel of the vehicle. In other words, the at least one fluid inlet 24 and the at least one air outlet 26 are not opposite each other. This promotes the curved, sinuous circulation of the fluid in the chamber 22, and therefore the capture and then the evacuation of the liquid towards the outside of the hood 16.

[0033] In particular, the chamber 22 is shaped for the recovery of liquid from the at least one fluid inlet 24. The chamber is shaped for the flow of the liquid towards the at least one liquid discharge orifice 28. The chamber 22 allows the capture of the liquid and its discharge via the at least one orifice 28. The at least one air outlet 26 in the upper part of the chamber 22 allows only air to pass towards the blowing member 18. On the lower (or bottom) part, the orifice 28 allows the discharge of the liquid. More specifically, the bottom of the chamber is shaped in the form of a bowl to collect and discharge the liquid via the at least one liquid discharge orifice 28 which is at the bottom of the chamber. The bottom of the bowl-shaped chamber is flared in one direction and converges in the opposite direction to collect the liquid.The wall 27 (marking the boundary with the compartment occupied by the blowing member 18) is shaped to convert into the bowl forming the bottom of the device 20. The liquid flows towards the bowl and pours out of the chamber through the discharge orifice 28. The chamber has a shape allowing the liquid to be guided towards the outlet 26. The smooth walls of the chamber (in particular the wall 27 and the bowl-forming wall) allow the liquid to flow by gravity. Opposite the at least one orifice 28, the at least one air outlet 26 in the upper part of the chamber allows only air to pass through. The suction of the blowing member 18 is carried out with air devoid of liquid.

[0034] Thus, a fluid, comprising air and / or liquid, is admitted into the chamber 22 through the at least one inlet 24 according to the arrows 30. The fluid is admitted into the chamber 22 through the cover 16, inside the detection device 10. The liquid is trapped in the chamber 22 (under the cover 16) and the air discharged from the liquid is conveyed to the blowing member 18 through the at least one air outlet 26 according to the arrows 32. The liquid trapped in the chamber 22 flows over the walls of the chamber, the cup-shaped bottom of which allows recovery and evacuation through the evacuation orifice 28 towards the outside of the cover, according to the arrows 34. In other words, the air coming from the outside enters through the openings of the cover 16 which covers the detection system, the device 20 for retaining the liquid is placed behind. The liquid is discharged through the opening – possibly horizontal – formed by orifice 28.

[0035] The device 20 may further comprise a fluid circulation baffle in the chamber. The baffle within the chamber 22 allows the admitted fluid to circulate in the chamber 22 so that the liquid flows towards the bottom of the chamber 22 and the liquid-free air is directed towards the blowing member 18. The detours of the fluid circulation by the baffle improve the separation of the air and the liquid. The baffle thus improves the quality of the suction of the blowing member 18.

[0036] The baffle may be formed by a partition 36 in the chamber 22. The partition 36 in the chamber 22 causes circulation of the fluid within the chamber 22. As an example also applicable to the other embodiments of the device 20, the partition 36 is shown. The partition 36 is a baffle preferably interposed between the at least one fluid inlet 24 and the at least one air outlet 26. Thus, the fluid does not pass directly through the chamber 22 from the inlet 24 to the outlet 26 but makes convolutions favorable to the flow of the liquid towards the bottom of the chamber 22. The circulation of the fluid is shown diagrammatically by the arrows 38, showing the bypassing of the partition-shaped baffle 36 within the chamber 22. The bypassing can occur in several places, for example at the bottom or on the sides of the partition 36. The partition 36 is maintained in the chamber according to the circulation imposed on the fluid.Preferably, the partition 36 extends from the cover 16. For example, the partition 36 extends from the cover 16 towards the bottom of the chamber 22. The partition 36 may be held by its upper edge, the fluid being able to circulate around the lateral edges and the lower edge of the partition 36. The liquid can flow from the partition 36 towards the bottom of the chamber 22 and then be evacuated.

[0037] The device 20 may further comprise at least one filter in the chamber 22. The filter may be added between the cover 16 and the walls of the device 20. The filter is capable of allowing air to pass towards the at least one outlet 26 and of retaining the liquid. The filter prevents the passage of the liquid. The filter may also be capable of allowing the liquid to flow towards the at least one liquid discharge orifice. The at least one filter further promotes the delivery of liquid-free air towards the blowing member 18 – for the purpose of a quality drying function. The filter may be held by the partition 36 – in front of or behind it. The filter may also be the partition 36.

[0038] The invention also relates to the motor vehicle detection system 10. The system comprises the sensor 12 for detecting the environment, the blowing member 18 for drying (or drying function) the sensor 12 and the suction device 20. The suction device 20 is capable of conveying air from outside the detection system 10, to the inside of the detection system 10. The suction device 20 is capable of conveying air to the blowing member 18. The suction device 20 is capable of conveying air through the at least one air outlet 26 of the chamber 22 further downstream in the detection system 10, to operate the drying function of the sensor in an optimal manner. In addition, the device 20 makes it possible to convey dry air to the blowing member, so as not to damage the blowing member.

[0039] Furthermore, the system 10 comprising the cover 16 covering the sensor and the blowing member, the device 20, also covered by the cover, allows an air inlet appropriate to the desired blowing flow rate for the blowing member. Thanks to the device 20, the encapsulation of the system by the cover does not affect the incoming air flow rate to guarantee the proper operation of the blowing member.

[0040] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising the detection system 10. In this system, the sensor 12 can be turned towards the front of the vehicle and the at least one air intake 24 can be turned towards one side of the vehicle and / or towards the rear of the vehicle, relative to the direction of travel of the vehicle. It is also possible to envisage the sensor 12 being turned towards the rear of the vehicle and the at least one air intake 24 being turned towards one side of the vehicle and / or towards the front of the vehicle, relative to the direction of travel of the vehicle (a conformation, such as a recess, limiting the entry of liquid into the device 20 will then be envisaged). The air is captured by the intake 24, circulated in the chamber 22 and conveyed towards the blowing member 18 to guarantee a sufficient flow rate to the blowing member 18.Furthermore, the air is conveyed dryly to the blowing member, the liquid – such as water – being discharged from the detection system 10, to the outside of the hood.

[0041] It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments and examples illustrated and / or described above, but that its scope is more broadly defined by the claims introduced below.

Claims

A suction device (20) for a detection system of a motor vehicle, comprising: a chamber (22), at least one fluid inlet (24) into the chamber, at least one air outlet (26) from the chamber, towards the detection system, at least one orifice (28) for discharging liquid from the chamber, the chamber (22) being shaped for the recovery of liquid coming from the at least one fluid inlet (24) and shaped for the flow of the liquid towards the at least one liquid discharge orifice (28). The device (20) of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid inlet (24) is a series of slots or oblong holes. The device (20) according to the preceding claim, in which the slots are vertical. The device (20) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one filter, the filter being capable of allowing air to pass towards the at least one outlet (26) and of retaining the liquid. The device (20) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a fluid circulation baffle in the chamber (22). The device (20) according to the preceding claim, in which the baffle is formed by a partition (36) interposed between the at least one fluid inlet (24) and the at least one air outlet (26). The device (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one fluid inlet (24) is offset relative to the at least one air outlet (26), the offset being transverse relative to the direction of admission of the fluid into the device. The device (20) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the liquid discharge orifice (28) is at the level of the bottom of the chamber (22), the bottom of the chamber being shaped as a bowl for the discharge of the liquid towards the at least one liquid discharge orifice (28), the at least one air outlet (26) is located in the upper part of the chamber (22). A motor vehicle detection system (10), comprising an environment detection sensor (12), a blowing member (18) for drying the sensor and a suction device (20) according to one of the preceding claims, the suction device being capable of conveying air to the blowing member via the at least one air outlet (26) of the chamber (22). The system (10) according to the preceding claim, comprising a cover (16) covering the sensor (12), the blowing member (18) and the suction device (20), the at least one fluid inlet (24) and the at least one liquid discharge orifice (28) being through the cover. A vehicle comprising the detection system (10) according to one of the two preceding claims. The vehicle according to the preceding claim, wherein the sensor (12) is facing the front of the vehicle and the at least one air intake (24) is facing one side of the vehicle and / or the rear of the vehicle, relative to the direction of travel of the vehicle.

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