Composite Nozzle Structure for Cleaning and Drying Auto Camera Lenses
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automobile systems fail to effectively remove contaminants such as dust and rainwater from camera lenses and side mirrors, leading to inaccurate information collection and impaired driver visibility.
Innovation Solution
A composite nozzle for automobiles that includes a housing with a cleaning liquid inlet and an air inlet path, an opening and closing valve, an elastic body, and a cap, allowing for the simultaneous spraying of cleaning liquid and air onto camera lenses and side mirrors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single nozzle is used for spraying cleaning liquid, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot spray both cleaning liquid and air simultaneously to remove different types of contaminants
Solution Approach 1:
The single nozzle is divided into two separate nozzles: a first nozzle for spraying cleaning liquid and a second nozzle for spraying air. This segmentation allows each nozzle to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle assembly is designed to provide multiple functions (spraying both cleaning liquid and air) through a unified structure that integrates both nozzles, allowing the system to handle different types of contaminants with a single integrated component.
2Reliability
If cleaning liquid is sprayed continuously to remove contaminants, then cleaning effectiveness is maintained, but cleaning liquid is wasted and the lens may remain wet affecting visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system operates in periodic cycles: cleaning liquid is sprayed first to remove contaminants, then air is sprayed to dry the lens surface. This periodic action ensures effective cleaning while minimizing cleaning liquid usage and preventing excessive wetness that would impair visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The air spraying function continuously removes moisture from the lens surface after cleaning liquid application, ensuring the lens remains dry and clear. This continuous useful action maintains cleaning effectiveness without requiring continuous cleaning liquid flow.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the nozzle structure is made complex to spray both cleaning liquid and air, then contaminant removal capability is improved, but the nozzle becomes prone to clogging and maintenance difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the spraying function into separate nozzles for cleaning liquid and air, each nozzle has a simpler internal structure with fewer passages and components, reducing the risk of clogging and simplifying manufacturing and maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The air spraying function is extracted as a separate nozzle from the cleaning liquid spraying system. This extraction simplifies the cleaning liquid nozzle structure, making it less prone to clogging while maintaining dual-functionality through the separate air nozzle.
4Ease of operation
If a single opening and closing valve is used to control cleaning liquid flow, then the valve structure is simple, but it cannot independently control both cleaning liquid and air spraying
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system is segmented into two independent opening and closing valves: one for controlling cleaning liquid flow and another for controlling air flow. This segmentation enables independent control of each spraying function, allowing flexible operation modes (cleaning only, drying only, or both simultaneously).
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
Enables the driver to conveniently remove contaminants from camera lenses and side mirrors using cleaning liquid and air, ensuring accurate information collection and improved driver visibility, even in adverse weather conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic body (400) such as a spring that slidably moves the opening and closing valve (200) while elastically supporting the opening and closing valve (200)
Implementation Method 2
the pressure of the cleaning liquid flowing through the cleaning liquid inlet (110)
Data Source
AI summary
A composite nozzle comprises: a housing having formed at one side thereof a cleaning liquid inlet through which the cleaning liquid is introduced, an installation port communicating with the cleaning liquid inlet at the other side thereof, and an air inlet path communicating with an air inlet on the outer side of the installation port; an opening and closing valve installed so as to be slidably movable toward one side and the other side in the installation port formed in the housing; an elastic body such as a spring that slidably moves the opening and closing valve while elastically supporting the opening and closing valve; and a cap which sprays the cleaning liquid to the outside from the other end of the housing in which the opening and closing valve is installed so as to be slidably movable in one direction and the other direction of the installation port.