Camera Washer Assembly With Stable Nozzle Alignment at Sea
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior art washer nozzles for cameras mounted on vessels are prone to misalignment and instability, reducing their effectiveness in keeping the camera lens clean due to exposure to waves and impacts.
Innovation Solution
A washer assembly with a first part connectable to a fluid supply and a second part with a nozzle, configured to be removably coupled via a mounting part, forming a continuous duct to maintain alignment and stability, with features such as opposing faces, wings, and a collar to prevent rocking and lateral movement, ensuring consistent fluid spraying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a washer nozzle is provided to spray fluid towards the camera lens, then the camera lens cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the washer nozzle becomes unstable and prone to misalignment when struck by waves
Solution Approach 1:
The washer assembly is divided into three separate parts: a first part connectable to fluid supply, a second part comprising the nozzle, and a mounting part couplable to the camera housing. These parts are removably coupled together, allowing for easier replacement and maintenance while maintaining stability when assembled. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling a more robust assembled structure that resists wave impacts while keeping individual components manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The first and second parts are nested together via the mounting part, with the mounting part serving as a common interface that couples both components to the camera housing. This nested arrangement creates a unified, stable assembly that maintains nozzle alignment with the camera lens even when struck by waves, while allowing the nested components to be separately replaced if needed.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the washer nozzle is made robust and resistant to impact, then stability and alignment are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the washer assembly into separate parts (first part, second part with nozzle, and mounting part), the design achieves robustness through proper assembly rather than through a single complex integrated structure. Each part can be simpler in design while the combined assembly provides the required stability and impact resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting part serves multiple functions: it couples the first part and second part together, provides alignment features, and attaches the entire assembly to the camera housing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining stability.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a washer assembly (100) for a camera (160) mounted on a vessel. The washer assembly (100) comprises a first part (110) connectable to a fluid supply, a second part (120) comprising a nozzle (150) configured to spray fluid towards an optical surface (170) of the camera (160), and a mounting part (130) couplable to a housing (162) of the camera. The first part (110) and the second part (120) are configured 10 to be removably coupled via the mounting part (130) wherein, when coupled, the first part and the second part abut opposing faces of the mounting part (130) and a continuous duct (140) is formed between the first part (110) and the second part (120).