Aerosol Spray Nozzle Cleaning for Automated Driving Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated driving systems' sensors, particularly cameras, face challenges in maintaining cleanliness due to environmental debris, with existing cleaning methods being inefficient in water consumption and not effectively removing fine dust and liquid particles, and requiring improved methods for selective fluid control and drying.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with a spray-body featuring a spray-nozzle and body-housing that induces suction pressure using pressurized airflow, combined with a hydraulic and pneumatic flow path, allowing for selective control of liquid and air supply, enabling the creation of an aerosol jet for effective cleaning with reduced water consumption and adaptable spray patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a Venturi-type mixing-chamber is used for spray cleaning, then cleaning capability is improved, but water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a two-fluid nozzle system utilizing pneumatic principles where pressurized gas (air or nitrogen) and liquid (water or cleaning solution) are introduced separately into a mixing chamber. The pressurized gas creates a Venturi effect that draws liquid through a restrictor and mixes it aerodynamically, producing an aerosol jet for cleaning while minimizing water consumption through efficient atomization
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts cleaning parameters by controlling the ratio and pressure of gas-to-liquid flow rates. By varying these parameters, the nozzle can adapt between different cleaning modes (water-only, air-only, or aerosol mixture) and optimize water consumption based on the specific contamination level and sensor surface requirements
2Productivity
If pressurized airflow is used to induce suction pressure, then liquid fluid supply is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The two-fluid nozzle design is inherently self-regulating: the pressurized gas flow automatically creates a suction pressure differential that draws liquid through the restrictor without requiring external pumps or complex control mechanisms. The system self-adjusts liquid flow rate based on gas pressure, simplifying the overall device architecture while maintaining efficient fluid supply
3Measurement precision
If selective control valves are added for fluid control, then cleaning precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses electronically controlled valves (solenoid or proportional valves) to precisely regulate gas and liquid flow rates independently. This enables dynamic adjustment of the aerosol composition and pressure parameters, allowing adaptive optimization of cleaning precision for different sensor surfaces and contamination types while maintaining manageable device complexity through electronic control
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides an efficient and selective cleaning method that reduces water consumption, effectively removes debris, and allows for precise control of cleaning fluids, ensuring sensor surfaces are kept clean with minimal water usage and adaptable to various operational conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The spray-nozzle (110) is adapted to spray the liquid fluid (L) and the pressurized air fluid (A) as a mixture in an aerosol jet from the spray-nozzle (110)
Implementation Method 2
a suction pressure is induced at the liquid fluid connection upon providing pressurized airflow from the pressurized air inlet to the spray-nozzle
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3(A)~3(B)
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
Cleaning device, cleaning device system and vehicle with a sensoric system comprising at least a sensor for automated driving and method of spray cleaning of a sensor surface with the cleaning device The invention relates to a cleaning device (1000) adapted for spray cleaning of a sensor surface (S101), the cleaning device (1000) comprising a spray-body (100), wherein the spray-body (100) has a spray-nozzle (110) and a body- housing (120), wherein a liquid fluid connection (P10L) to a liquid inlet (120L) and a pressurized air fluid connection (P10A) to a pressurized air inlet (120A) is provided, such that - a suction pressure is induced at the liquid fluid connection (P10L) upon providing pressurized airflow from the pressurized air inlet (120A) to the spray-nozzle (110), and - to the liquid fluid connection (P10L) a hydraulic flow path is connected wherein a hydraulic valve (210) is provided in a liquid fluid duct (LL) of the hydraulic flow path adapted for selective control of supplying liquid fluid (L) from a liquid reservoir to the liquid fluid inlet (120L), and - to the pressurized air fluid connection (P10A) a pneumatic flow path is connected wherein a pneumatic valve (220) is provided in a pressurized air fluid duct (AL) of the pneumatic flow path adapted for selective control of supplying pressurized air fluid (A) from a pressurizing means to the pressurized air fluid inlet (120A). According to the invention it is provided that - the hydraulic valve (210) is a two-way solenoid hydraulic valve, - the pneumatic valve (220) is a two-way solenoid pneumatic valve, and - the spray-nozzle (110) is adapted to spray the liquid fluid (L) and the pressurized air fluid (A) as a mixture in an aerosol jet (AJ) from the spray-nozzle (110) if supplied to the spray-nozzle (110) by the fluid con- nections (P10L, P10A).