Vehicle Camera Lens Cleaning Nozzle Using Air-Induced Mist
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cleaning devices for vehicle-mounted cameras require a large amount of cleaning liquid to effectively remove foreign substances from the lens, leading to inefficiency and potential waste.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with a nozzle design that combines compressed air and cleaning liquid, using a secondary tank to create negative pressure, allowing for efficient mist formation and reduced liquid consumption, with modes for pressurized cleaning, air blow, and continuous water supply to address various weather conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large amount of cleaning liquid is sprayed over the lens surface, then foreign substances can be removed effectively, but cleaning liquid consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses compressed air as the primary cleaning medium to blow foreign substances off the lens surface, eliminating the need for large amounts of cleaning liquid. The air blowing section delivers compressed air through a delivery pipe to the lens, providing effective cleaning without liquid consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the cleaning liquid spraying function from the conventional cleaning system, retaining only the essential air blowing function for lens cleaning. This extraction eliminates the problem of cleaning liquid consumption while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
2Reliability
If cleaning liquid is sprayed continuously, then the lens remains clean, but liquid consumption increases and solidification problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses intermittent or periodic air blowing instead of continuous liquid spraying. The control section can operate the air blowing section periodically to maintain lens cleanliness, preventing both excessive liquid consumption and solidification issues that would arise from continuous liquid application.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the liquid-based cleaning mechanism with a gas-based (compressed air) mechanism. This substitution eliminates the problems associated with liquid consumption, storage, and solidification, using only compressed air for cleaning and maintenance.
3Loss of substance
If compressed air is used alone for cleaning, then cleaning liquid consumption is reduced, but cleaning effectiveness may be insufficient for certain foreign substances
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a multi-functional cleaning system where the air blowing section handles most cleaning tasks, and the liquid spraying section is available for specific cases requiring liquid. This universal approach ensures cleaning effectiveness for various foreign substances while minimizing liquid consumption through selective use.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the cleaning parameter from liquid-based to gas-based (compressed air), adjusting the cleaning mechanism to use air pressure and flow instead of liquid. This parameter change reduces liquid consumption while maintaining or improving cleaning effectiveness through controlled air delivery.
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 device effectively cleans the lens surface with a minimal amount of cleaning liquid, preventing foreign substance attachment and maintaining the lens in a clean state, while minimizing liquid usage and preventing solidification issues.
Implementation Method 1
when the compressed air and the cleaning liquid are caused to jet, a negative pressure is generated at the distal end portion of the cleaning liquid path due to the jet of the compressed air
Implementation Method 2
a cleaning liquid and a compressed air discharge and which are disposed so as to face a lens surface of a camera
Data Source
AI summary
An air passage and two lines of cleaning liquid paths are provided in a nozzle, and the air passage is bifurcated into two lines of distal end portions. Then, a distal end portion of the cleaning liquid path and the distal end portion of the air passage are merged. Thus, if the compressed air is supplied to the air passage, the resulting air flow causes a negative pressure on the downstream side. This enables making a cleaning liquid into the form of a mist and suctioning it, and to mix the cleaning liquid in the form of a mist with the compressed air, whereby it is possible to clean the lens surface and to reduce the amount of the cleaning liquid used.