Blended Jet Spray Nozzle for Stable Sensor Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spray nozzles for cleaning vehicle external sensors and camera lenses struggle to provide a stable and precisely targeted spray pattern, especially under aerodynamic loads and high wind conditions, due to the small size and exposure to environmental debris.
Innovation Solution
A spray nozzle design with a nozzle array featuring varying cross-sectional shapes and orientations, allowing independent spray patterns to converge into a single targeted pattern, while maintaining stability against aerodynamic forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spray nozzle is designed to eject washer fluid under high pressure to remove debris, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the spray pattern becomes unstable under aerodynamic loads and wind conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The spray nozzle divides the cleaning function into multiple nozzles (e.g., three nozzles) arranged in an array, each contributing to the overall spray pattern. This segmentation allows the system to maintain stability under aerodynamic loads while collectively achieving complete coverage of the target surface.
Solution Approach 2:
Each nozzle in the array has a specific orientation and cross-sectional shape tailored to its position, creating locally optimized spray patterns that converge at the target. This local customization ensures that each nozzle contributes effectively to the unified spray pattern while compensating for aerodynamic disturbances.
2Measurement precision
If the spray nozzle is designed to precisely target small camera lenses and sensors, then the cleaning precision is improved, but the spray coverage area is limited
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple independent spray patterns from individual nozzles are merged to form a single unified spray pattern at the target location. This merging allows the system to maintain precise targeting of small camera lenses and sensors while achieving complete coverage through the combined effect of multiple nozzles.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzles are oriented at different angles and positions in three-dimensional space, with cross-sectional shapes that vary from interior to exterior openings. This dimensional arrangement allows independent spray patterns to converge at the target, achieving both precision and adequate coverage area.
3Area of stationary object
If the nozzle array uses multiple nozzles with different orientations to achieve complete coverage, then the spray coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle array employs asymmetric configurations where nozzles have different orientations, positions, and cross-sectional shapes tailored to their specific roles. This asymmetry allows complete coverage of the target area while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that can be manufactured as an integrated component.
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 nozzle array ensures precise and stable cleaning of camera lenses and sensors by converging independent spray patterns into a unified stream, effectively overcoming aerodynamic loads and ensuring complete coverage despite environmental interference.
Implementation Method 1
The outlet channel is connected to the inner channel at the interior opening. A cross-sectional shape of the outlet channel taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis varies from the interior opening to the exterior opening.
Data Source
AI summary
A spray nozzle is provided. The spray nozzle has a head including a face having a nozzle array and an inner channel in fluid communication with the nozzle array. The nozzle array includes a plurality of nozzles. Each nozzle is defined by an interior opening, an exterior opening, and an outlet channel extending therebetween. Each nozzle has a longitudinal axis extending in a direction extending between the interior opening and the exterior opening. The outlet channel is connected to the inner channel at the interior opening. A cross-sectional shape of the outlet channel taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis varies from the interior opening to the exterior opening.