Integrated Fluid Tank for Vehicle Sensor Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sensor cleaning systems for vehicles are complex and bulky due to separate air and liquid tanks, leading to increased size, weight, and electrical wiring/piping requirements, which complicates manufacturability and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A sensor cleaning system that integrates an air nozzle, a liquid nozzle, and a fluid tank, where compressed air is used to pressurize and transfer both air and liquid to the nozzles, simplifying the system configuration and reducing the need for separate pumps and tanks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate air tank and liquid tank are installed, then air and liquid can be stored independently, but system size and complexity increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate air tank and liquid tank into a single integrated fluid tank that stores both compressed air and liquid. This merging reduces the number of components, simplifies system configuration, and decreases overall system size while maintaining the ability to independently manage air and liquid through separate chambers or compartments within the unified tank structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated fluid tank serves multiple functions: storing compressed air, storing liquid, and providing pressurization for liquid delivery. By making the tank multi-functional, the system eliminates the need for separate dedicated tanks for each fluid type, thereby reducing complexity while maintaining operational reliability.
2Reliability
If separate air compressor and liquid pump are used, then air and liquid can be pressurized independently, but system weight and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The compressed air stored in the fluid tank serves dual purposes: it is used directly for air blowing cleaning and simultaneously provides pressurization for liquid delivery through the liquid nozzle. This eliminates the need for a separate liquid pump, reducing system weight and power consumption while maintaining independent control over air and liquid pressurization through electronic valve regulation.
3Ease of operation
If separate electrical wiring and piping are installed for air and liquid systems, then control is precise, but manufacturing cost and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the air and liquid delivery systems into a unified architecture where both fluids are stored in the same tank and delivered through coordinated nozzles. This merging reduces the number of separate piping lines and electrical wiring harnesses required, simplifying manufacturing and installation while maintaining precise control through electronic valve management of the shared fluid reservoir.
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 integrated system reduces system complexity, weight, and cost, while improving efficiency by eliminating the need for separate liquid pumps, reducing vibration and noise, and minimizing energy loss due to simplified electrical wiring and piping.
Implementation Method 1
an air compressor that compresses external air and supplies the compressed external air into the fluid tank
Implementation Method 2
the fluid tank may be configured to pressurize and transfer liquid in the fluid tank using the pressure of compressed air in the fluid tank
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor cleaning system includes: an air nozzle that sprays compressed air toward a sensor; a liquid nozzle that sprays liquid toward the sensor; a fluid tank that stores compressed air to be supplied to the air nozzle and liquid to be supplied to the liquid nozzle; an air compressor that compresses and supplies external air into the fluid tank; and a distributor that selectively supplies compressed air from the fluid tank to the air nozzle and selectively supplies liquid from the fluid tank to the liquid nozzle.