Ejection Nozzle Seal Member for Vehicle Camera Lens Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ejection nozzle designs for vehicle-mounted optical devices allow water droplets and dust to re-adhere to the lens due to the pressure of high-pressure air causing the nozzle to rise, allowing these contaminants to enter the air passage and re-deposit on the lens.
Innovation Solution
An ejection nozzle member with a cover member, air passage, and an air ejecting unit that includes a seal member formed in an inclined manner to maintain contact with the vehicle-mounted optical device, preventing contaminants from entering the air passage by using the compressed air to press the seal member into intimate contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high pressure air is ejected from the nozzle to remove water droplets, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the nozzle rises away from the vehicle-mounted camera due to air pressure, allowing contaminants to enter the air passage
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is pre-positioned in an inclined manner along the boundary between the air ejecting unit and the vehicle-mounted optical device before high pressure air is supplied. This preliminary positioning ensures that when high pressure air is ejected, the seal member is already in place to prevent contaminants from entering the air passage, counteracting the upward movement of the nozzle.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined seal member is designed to be pushed by the high pressure air flow in a beneficial direction. The harmful upward force of the high pressure air that causes nozzle displacement is converted into a beneficial force that presses the seal member against the vehicle-mounted optical device, improving sealing performance rather than degrading it.
2Manufacturing precision
If the nozzle is positioned close to the lens surface for effective cleaning, then cleaning precision is improved, but water droplets and dust can enter the air passage through gaps between the nozzle and vehicle-mounted camera
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member acts as an intermediary element between the air ejecting unit and the vehicle-mounted optical device. It fills the gap that would otherwise allow water droplets and dust to enter the air passage, while still allowing the air ejecting unit to maintain its optimal position for effective cleaning.
3Reliability
If a seal member is added to prevent contaminant entry, then sealing performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding complex sealing mechanisms throughout the entire nozzle structure, the seal member is localized only at the critical boundary between the air ejecting unit and the vehicle-mounted optical device. This localized approach provides effective sealing while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
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 effectively prevents water droplets and dust from entering the air ejecting unit, ensuring reliable sealing and preventing re-adhesion to the lens, even when the nozzle rises due to air pressure, while maintaining effective air ejection for cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
the seal member, which is inclined toward the side of the air ejecting unit, is pressed by the compressed air against the vehicle-mounted optical device
Data Source
AI summary
An ejection nozzle member attached to a vehicle-mounted camera is formed from an elastic material, and includes a cover member mounted on an upper surface of a casing, the cover member having therein an air passage to which compressed air is supplied. A pair of seal members are formed in an air ejecting unit, from which the compressed air is ejected, on outer sides of the air passage in a widthwise direction. The seal members are formed in lip shapes, protruding downward and toward the center in the widthwise direction on a side of the air passage. When the ejection nozzle member is attached to the camera, distal ends of the seal members are placed in contact mutually on the side of the air passage, and are pressed toward the casing by the compressed air that flows in the air passage to thereby be placed in intimate contact therewith.