Pulsed Air-Liquid Sensor Cleaning Without Mechanical Wipers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning devices for vehicle sensors rely heavily on mechanical wipers, which are inefficient and require significant energy and maintenance, while also consuming excessive cleaning media.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device that applies a medium sequence of compressed air and a cleaning agent in pulse-like manner, using a high-pressure accumulator and switching valve to selectively control the application, reducing the need for mechanical components and optimizing energy and media usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical wipers are used for cleaning sensors, then cleaning function is provided, but energy consumption increases and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wiper system with a pneumatic cleaning system using compressed air nozzles. The control unit activates solenoid valves to direct compressed air through nozzles onto the sensor surface, eliminating mechanical contact and reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective cleaning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes a compressed air system with storage reservoir, pressure regulator, and solenoid-controlled valves to deliver pulsed streams of compressed air to cleaning nozzles. This pneumatic system provides reliable cleaning without the continuous energy consumption and maintenance issues of mechanical wipers.
2Reliability
If mechanical wipers are used for cleaning sensors, then cleaning function is provided, but maintenance effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical wiper components entirely, replacing them with a pneumatic system consisting of nozzles, valves, and compressed air storage. This substitution removes wear-prone mechanical parts that require maintenance, while providing reliable contactless cleaning through controlled air pulses.
3Reliability
If excessive cleaning media is used, then cleaning effect is ensured, but consumption of cleaning agents increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit implements periodic cleaning cycles by activating solenoid valves in sequence to deliver pulsed streams of compressed air. This periodic action applies cleaning media only when needed and in controlled amounts, ensuring effective cleaning while minimizing consumption compared to continuous application methods.
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 achieves a high cleaning effect with reduced equipment expenditure and energy consumption, eliminating the dependence on mechanical wipers and enhancing the robustness and reliability of the cleaning process.
Implementation Method 1
a high-pressure accumulator (140) is provided for storing the first medium, in particular when pressurized to a storage pressure
Implementation Method 2
a cleaning valve with a holding port, a pressure port, a plunger and a pressure outlet; the pressure outlet (126) is designed for pulse-like application of the first medium to the surface
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2D
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a cleaning device (100, 100A–D, 100K, 100', 100'') for selectively applying a sequence of media (MS, MS1–5) consisting of at least one first, in particular gaseous, medium (M1) and one second, in particular liquid, medium (M2) to a surface (O), the cleaning device comprising: - a nozzle (180, 180K) designed to apply the second medium (M2) to the surface (O), - a cleaning valve (120, 120', 120'', 120K) with a retaining connection (122, 122K), a pressure connection (124, 124', 124K), a plunger (128, 128', 272) and a pressure outlet (126, 126K).