Telescopic cleaning device for a motor vehicle, and associated motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a telescopic cleaning device intended to spray a cleaning and / or drying fluid towards an optical surface of a motor vehicle, the telescopic cleaning device comprising a hydraulic actuator configured to move a fluid-spraying element, the hydraulic actuator comprising a piston configured to move axially from a retracted position to a deployed position under the action of the cleaning and / or drying fluid, the telescopic cleaning device comprising a first line configured to supply the hydraulic actuator with cleaning and / or drying fluid and a second line configured to supply the spraying element with cleaning and / or drying fluid, and wherein the telescopic cleaning device comprises a single pumping device configured to make it possible to supply the hydraulic actuator and the spraying element with cleaning and / or drying fluid.

Description

Telescopic cleaning device for motor vehicle and associated motor vehicle

[0001] The present invention falls within the field of devices for cleaning 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 cleaning device to keep its optical surfaces clean.

[0003] Furthermore, the size of these optical surfaces is increasingly larger so that it becomes difficult to cover all of these surfaces with the devices known from the state of the art such as fixed spray nozzles.

[0004] It is also advisable to limit the consumption of cleaning fluid.

[0005] Furthermore, it is also important not to distort the visual appearance and aerodynamics of the vehicles on which the devices are fitted.

[0006] Finally, it is appropriate to limit the energy consumption of these cleaning devices, particularly with a view to their installation on electric vehicles since this could impact the vehicle's autonomy.

[0007] 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.

[0008] To this end, the present invention relates to a telescopic cleaning device intended to project a cleaning and / or drying fluid towards an optical surface of a motor vehicle, said telescopic cleaning device comprising a hydraulic actuator configured to move a fluid projection element, said hydraulic actuator comprising a piston configured to move axially from a retracted position to a deployed position under the action of the cleaning and / or drying fluid, said telescopic cleaning device comprising a first pipe configured to supply the hydraulic actuator with cleaning and / or drying fluid and a second pipe configured to supply the projection element with cleaning and / or drying fluid and a single pumping device configured to allow the hydraulic actuator and the projection element to be supplied with cleaning and / or drying fluid.

[0009] The use of a single pumping device and two separate lines to supply the blasting element(s) and the hydraulic actuator allows for constant blasting pressure and therefore improved cleaning without increasing energy consumption.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, the telescopic cleaning device comprises a main pipe on which the pumping device is disposed, the first and second pipes being in fluid communication with the main pipe.

[0011] According to another aspect of the present invention, the first conduit comprises a first valve, in particular a first solenoid valve.

[0012] The use of a first valve makes it possible to choose the position of the piston of the hydraulic actuator and thus to project fluid into the chosen areas of the optical surface.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, the second conduit comprises a second valve, in particular a second solenoid valve.

[0014] The use of a second valve makes it possible to control the projection of cleaning fluid and thus limit its consumption.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, the telescopic cleaning device also comprises a cleaning fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the main conduit.

[0016] According to another aspect of the present invention, the telescopic cleaning device comprises means for detecting a soiled and / or wet area of ​​the optical surface and means for controlling the pumping device and the first and second valves, said control means being configured to supply the hydraulic actuator with cleaning and / or drying fluid so as to position the fluid projection element opposite the soiled and / or wet area and to supply the fluid projection element with cleaning and / or drying fluid when said fluid projection element is opposite the soiled and / or wet area.

[0017] According to another aspect of the present invention, the detection means are produced by a sensor of the motor vehicle arranged behind the optical surface.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, the detection means are produced by a LIDAR type sensor or by a camera.

[0019] According to another aspect of the present invention, the telescopic cleaning device comprises a plurality of projection elements moved by the hydraulic actuator and in fluid communication with the second conduit. This feature has the advantage that the plurality of projection elements makes it possible to cover a larger optical surface to be cleaned in a reduced time, while saving the cleaning and / or drying fluid projected towards the optical surface. This feature also has the advantage of allowing efficient cleaning of large optical surfaces and with less movement of the distribution element fixed on the piston. By the expression less movement is meant reduced movement. In this configuration, each of the projection elements is addressed to a specific portion of the optical surface to be cleaned.In other words, the greater the number of projection elements, the smaller the portion of the surface to be cleaned by each of the projection elements.

[0020] According to another aspect of the present invention, the hydraulic actuator also comprises an elastic return means configured to constrain the piston in the retracted position.

[0021] The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a telescopic cleaning device as described above.

[0022] 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:

[0023] represents a schematic view of a telescopic cleaning device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] represents a schematic view of a telescopic cleaning device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] represents a schematic view of a telescopic cleaning device according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] represents a schematic view of a telescopic cleaning device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] represents an alternative embodiment adaptable to different embodiments;

[0028] represents the cleaning device in a retracted position;

[0029] represents the cleaning device in a first position;

[0030] represents the cleaning device in the first position with the activation of the cleaning fluid projection;

[0031] represents the cleaning device in a second position with the activation of the cleaning fluid projection;

[0032] In these figures, identical elements have the same references.

[0033] 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.

[0034] The present invention relates to a telescopic cleaning device for a motor vehicle, in particular for optical surfaces associated with sensors of the motor vehicle such as lidar sensors, cameras or laser sensors. Such a telescopic cleaning device can also be used for cleaning a windshield or a headlight lens.

[0035] The figure shows a telescopic cleaning device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The telescopic cleaning device 1 is configured to spray a cleaning and / or drying fluid, for example water, soapy water, a cleaning liquid or air, onto an optical surface 3 of the vehicle, such as an optical surface of a sensor, for example a LIDAR type sensor. In the figures, the fluid projections 2 are represented by triangles.

[0036] The telescopic cleaning device 1 comprises a hydraulic actuator 5 and a fluid projection element 7 configured to be moved by the hydraulic actuator 5.

[0037] The hydraulic actuator 5 comprises a piston 5a configured to be moved from a retracted position (shown in the) to an extended position (visible in the) under the action of a pressurized fluid supplied to the inlet 5b of the hydraulic actuator 5 as indicated by the arrow F.

[0038] The fluid is supplied by a first fluid supply line 11, a first end of which is connected to the inlet 5b of the hydraulic actuator 5. The inlet 5b is provided in a casing 5c ​​in which the piston 5a extends at least partially. The second end of the first line 11 is connected to a first end of a main line 13, the second end of which is connected to a reservoir 15 of a cleaning fluid.

[0039] A pumping device 17 such as a pump 17 is arranged on the main pipe 13. The pump 17 is configured to supply the hydraulic actuator 5 with cleaning fluid.

[0040] The hydraulic actuator 5 comprises for example an elastic return means (not shown), such as a helical spring, configured to constrain the piston 5a into the retracted position so that when no pressurized fluid is supplied to the inlet 5a of the hydraulic actuator 5, the piston 5a is constrained into its retracted position.

[0041] In the example of the, the telescopic cleaning device 1 comprises two fluid projection elements 7 produced by two projection nozzles 7 arranged on a distribution element 9 fixed on the piston 5a so that the projection nozzles 7 are moved when the piston 5a moves. It is however possible to use a different number of projection elements 7 such as a single projection element 7 or a number of projection elements 7 greater than two.

[0042] The hydraulic actuator 5 is positioned so that when the piston 5a moves from its retracted position to its deployed position, the projection nozzles 7 are moved opposite the optical surface 3 so as to allow projection of fluid over the entire optical surface 3.

[0043] The telescopic cleaning device 1 also comprises a second fluid supply line 19 configured to supply the projection nozzles 7. The first end of the second line 19 is for example connected to the distribution element 9 and the second end of the second line 19 is for example connected to the first end of the main line 13. Thus, the second line 19 allows the projection nozzles 7 to be supplied with cleaning fluid under the effect of the pump 17.

[0044] The telescopic cleaning device 1 also comprises control means 20, such as a microcontroller or microprocessor, configured to receive a control signal for cleaning the optical surface 3. This control signal is for example emitted in response to a command from a user or following the detection of dirt or stains 25 on the optical surface 3. The detection is for example carried out by a LIDAR type sensor arranged behind the optical surface 3.

[0045] In operation, the piston 5a is by default in the retracted position due to the action of the elastic return means. Following receipt of a control signal, the control means 20 of the telescopic cleaning device 1 activate the pump 17 which causes the supply of cleaning fluid, for example water from the tank 15, both to the hydraulic actuator 5 via the first pipe 11 and to the projection nozzles 7 via the second pipe 19.

[0046] Thus, the activation of the pump 17 causes both the movement of the piston 5a towards its deployed position and the projection of cleaning fluid onto the optical surface 3 via the projection nozzles 7. The projection of fluid 2 therefore takes place throughout the movement of the piston 5a from its retracted position to its deployed position and with a constant pressure throughout the movement of the piston 5a which makes it possible to effectively clean the entire optical surface 3. When the piston 3 reaches its deployed position, the control means 20 are configured to deactivate the pump 17 which causes the projection of fluid to stop and the piston 5a to return to the retracted position under the effect of the elastic return means.

[0047] The detection of the piston 5a in the deployed position is for example carried out by a dedicated sensor such as a contactor or by the sensor arranged behind the optical surface 3, for example a Lidar type sensor or a camera. Alternatively, the control means 20 can be configured to activate the pump 17 for a predetermined duration corresponding to the deployment of the piston 5a to its deployed position.

[0048] According to a second embodiment shown in the, the telescopic cleaning device 1 differs from the embodiment of the by the presence of a first valve 21, for example a first solenoid valve 21, arranged on the first pipe 11 and a second valve 23, for example a second solenoid valve 23 arranged on the second pipe 19. The control means 20 of the telescopic cleaning device 1 are also configured to control the opening and closing of the first 21 and the second 23 valves. The pump 17 can be activated when at least one of the first 21 or second 23 valves is in the open position.

[0049] The first valve 21 makes it possible to control the supply of cleaning fluid to the hydraulic actuator 5 (when the pump 17 is activated) and therefore the position of the piston 5a.

[0050] The second valve 23 makes it possible to control the supply of cleaning fluid to the projection nozzles 7 and therefore the projection of cleaning liquid onto the optical surface 3 independently of the position or movement of the piston 5a.

[0051] Due to the independent control of the hydraulic actuator 5 and the projection of fluid via the nozzles 7, it is possible to clean only certain portions of the optical surface 3. In particular, the control means 20 of the telescopic cleaning device 1 can be configured to control the first 21 and second 23 valves so as to clean only the portions of the optical surface 3 on which dirt or stains 25 have been detected, which makes it possible to reduce the consumption of cleaning fluid.

[0052] Such independent control of the hydraulic actuator 5 and the projection of cleaning fluid via the nozzles 7 will now be described from Figures 6 to 9.

[0053] La represents an optical surface 3 comprising a stain 25. The position of the stain 25 is for example detected by the sensor arranged behind the optical surface 3, for example a LIDAR type sensor or a camera or any other sensor allowing the detection of a stain 25 on the optical surface 3.

[0054] The control means 20 are then configured to activate the pump 17 and open the first valve 21 so as to move the piston 5a to a first position shown in which one of the nozzles 7 is substantially opposite the soiling 25. The second valve 23 is kept closed so that no cleaning fluid is sprayed when the piston 5a is moved to the first position.

[0055] When the piston 5a reaches the first position, the control means 20 control the opening of the second valve 23 so as to spray cleaning fluid via the nozzles 7 as shown in the. The first valve 21 is kept open so that the piston 5a continues to move towards its deployed position which makes it possible to spray or project cleaning fluid onto the part of the optical surface 3 covered by the soiling 25. The piston 5a is moved to a second position shown in the and corresponding to the deployed position of the piston 5a.

[0056] If the spraying of cleaning fluid has made it possible to remove the soiling 25 as in the case of 1a, the control means 20 can deactivate the pump 17 (and / or close the first and second valves 21 and 23) so that the projection of cleaning fluid 2 is stopped and the piston 5a is moved to its retracted position under the effect of the elastic return means.

[0057] Alternatively, if the soiling 25 is still present, the control means 20 can control the closing of the first valve 21 (the second valve 23 being kept open) which causes the piston 5a to move towards its retracted position under the effect of the elastic return means and therefore a new projection of cleaning fluid 2 onto the soiling 25. When the piston 5a returns to the first position, the first valve 21 can be reopened if a new projection of cleaning fluid 2 onto the soiling 25 is necessary.

[0058] Thus, the use of a first 21 and a second 23 valves arranged respectively on the first 11 and the second 19 conduits make it possible to spray the cleaning only on the parts of the optical surface 3 which require cleaning, which makes it possible to limit the quantity of cleaning fluid used.

[0059] The telescopic cleaning device 1 may also be configured to project a drying fluid such as air. The air projection may be used to blow away dirt or soiling positioned on the optical surface 3. The air may also be projected after the projection of a cleaning fluid to dry the optical surface 3.

[0060] Larepresents an alternative embodiment allowing the projection of a cleaning fluid or the projection of air. The telescopic cleaning device 1 of ladiffers from that of laby the use of a three-way valve 27 arranged on the main pipe 13 between the tank 15 and the pump 17. The three-way valve 27 comprises a first inlet 27a configured to be connected to the tank 15, a second inlet 27b configured to be connected to an air inlet and an outlet 27c configured to be connected to the pump 17.

[0061] Thus, the control means 20 are configured to control the position of the three-way valve 27 to connect the outlet 27c either to the first inlet 27a to spray cleaning fluid or to the second inlet 27b to spray air as required.

[0062] This alternative embodiment allowing the projection of cleaning fluid or the projection of air can be applied to the different embodiments presented in figures 1 to 4.

[0063] According to a third embodiment shown in the, the telescopic cleaning device 1 differs from the embodiment of the by the use of a first valve 21 arranged on the first pipe 11. This first valve 21 makes it possible to move the piston 5a and thus choose the part of the optical surface 3 onto which the cleaning fluid is projected. However, since the second pipe 19 is without a valve, the cleaning fluid is projected as soon as the pump 17 is activated regardless of the position of the piston 5a.

[0064] According to a fourth embodiment shown in the, the telescopic cleaning device 1 differs from the embodiment of the by the use of a second valve 23 arranged on the second pipe 19. This second valve 23 makes it possible to select the times during which the cleaning fluid is projected so that only certain parts of the optical surface 3 can be cleaned. However, since the first pipe 11 is without a valve, the piston 5a is moved to its deployed position as soon as the pump 17 is activated.

[0065] The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a telescopic cleaning device 1 as described previously.

[0066] Thus, the use of a telescopic cleaning device 1 as described above makes it possible to obtain effective spraying over a large optical surface 3 due to the hydraulic actuator 5 allowing the displacement of the piston 5a and with it the displacement of the projection element(s) 7 and the independent supply of the projection elements 7 and the hydraulic actuator 5. In addition, the use of valves 21, 23 on one and / or the other of the lines 11, 19 makes it possible to reduce the consumption of cleaning fluid by cleaning only a part of the optical surface 3. Finally, such a telescopic cleaning device 1 has limited energy consumption since its operation can be carried out via the activation of a single pump 17 and possibly the control of one or two valves or solenoid valves 21, 23.

Claims

Telescopic cleaning device (1) for projecting a cleaning and / or drying fluid towards an optical surface (3) of a motor vehicle, said telescopic cleaning device (1) comprising a hydraulic actuator (5) configured to move a fluid projection element (7), said hydraulic actuator (5) comprising a piston (5a) configured to move axially from a retracted position to a deployed position under the action of the cleaning and / or drying fluid,characterized in that said telescopic cleaning device (1) comprises a first pipe (11) configured to supply the hydraulic actuator (5) with cleaning and / or drying fluid and a second pipe (19) configured to supply the projection element (7) with cleaning and / or drying fluid and in that the telescopic cleaning device (1) comprises a single pumping device (17) configured to allow the supply of the hydraulic actuator (5) and the projection element (7) with cleaning and / or drying fluid., Telescopic cleaning device (1) according to claim 1 comprising a main pipe (13) on which the pumping device (17) is arranged, the first (11) and the second (19) pipes being in fluid communication with the main pipe (13). Telescopic cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first pipe (11) comprises a first valve (21), in particular a first solenoid valve (21). Telescopic cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second pipe (19) comprises a second valve (23), in particular a second solenoid valve (23). Telescopic cleaning device (1) according to one of claims 2 to 4 also comprising a reservoir (15) of cleaning fluid in fluid communication with the main pipe (13). Telescopic cleaning device (1) according to claim 4 and claim 3 wherein the telescopic cleaning device (1) comprises means for detecting a soiled and / or wet area (25) of the optical surface (3) and control means (20) of the pumping device (17) and the first (21) and second (23) valves, said control means (20) being configured to supply the hydraulic actuator (5) with cleaning and / or drying fluid so as to position the fluid projection element (7) opposite the soiled and / or wet area (25) and to supply the fluid projection element (7) with cleaning and / or drying fluid when said fluid projection element (7) is opposite the soiled and / or wet area (25). Telescopic cleaning device (1) according to the preceding claim in which the detection means are produced by a sensor of the motor vehicle arranged behind the optical surface (3). Telescopic cleaning device (1) according to the preceding claim in which the detection means are produced by a LIDAR type sensor or by a camera. Telescopic cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims comprising a plurality of projection elements (7) moved by the hydraulic actuator (5) and in fluid communication with the second conduit (19). Telescopic cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims wherein the hydraulic actuator (5) also comprises an elastic return means configured to constrain the piston (5a) in the retracted position. Motor vehicle comprising a telescopic cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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