Roof Module Cleaning Nozzle Layout for Sensor See-Through Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle designs face issues with cleaning nozzles in the roof area, including aesthetic concerns, interference with environment sensors, aerodynamic disadvantages, increased manufacturing complexity, and exposure to mechanical stress, which affect the cleaning performance and safety of the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
The placement of cleaning nozzles in an installation space formed between the window and the roof module frame or panel component, where they are attached to a stepped portion, allowing them to be hidden from view and protected from external influences, reducing the need for additional apertures and sealing issues, while maintaining access for cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cleaning nozzles are disposed statically on the roof skin in an area of the roof module, then the see-through area can be cleaned, but the cleaning nozzles protrude above the roof skin causing aesthetic issues and interference with environment sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning nozzles are relocated from the external roof skin surface to an internal installation space formed between the window and the roof module frame. This dimensional relocation allows the nozzles to be hidden from external view while maintaining their cleaning function, thus resolving the aesthetic contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning nozzles are nested within the installation space created by the overlapping window and roof module frame. This nesting approach allows the nozzles to be concealed within the vehicle structure while still accessing the see-through area for cleaning, eliminating the need for external protruding components.
2Reliability
If cleaning nozzles are disposed statically on the roof skin, then cleaning function is provided, but the nozzles act as disturbance variables in the field of view of environment sensors causing blind areas
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning nozzles are extracted from the external roof surface and relocated to the internal installation space. This extraction removes the nozzles from the sensor's field of view, eliminating their interference with environment detection while preserving their cleaning capability through alternative positioning.
3Ease of operation
If cleaning nozzles protrude from the roof skin, then cleaning access is maintained, but aerodynamic disadvantages and noise behavior occur due to turbulent flow formation
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzles are moved from the external aerodynamic surface to an internal installation space, removing them from the airflow path. This eliminates turbulent flow formation around protruding nozzles and the associated noise, while cleaning access is maintained through the see-through area.
4Reliability
If cleaning nozzles are disposed on the roof skin, then cleaning function is provided, but complex cutouts and sealing problems occur in the panel component
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning nozzles are extracted from the panel component structure and relocated to the installation space formed by the window and roof module frame. This eliminates the need for complex cutouts and sealing arrangements in the panel, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining cleaning functionality.
5Reliability
If cleaning nozzles are disposed statically on the roof skin, then cleaning is provided, but the nozzles are exposed to stronger mechanical influences reducing service life
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning nozzles are nested within the protected installation space formed between the window and roof module frame. This nesting provides mechanical protection from external influences such as car washes and environmental exposure, extending the service life of the nozzles while maintaining their cleaning function.
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
This solution improves the aesthetic and aerodynamic design of the vehicle, enhances the protection and longevity of the cleaning nozzles, reduces manufacturing complexity, and ensures effective cleaning performance without interfering with environment sensors or compromising safety.
Implementation Method 1
The roof module comprises a cleaning feature (18) having at least one cleaning nozzle (20) and being configured to clean the see-through area (16)
Implementation Method 2
The roof module comprises at least one environment sensor (14) configured to send and/or receive electromagnetic signals through a see-through area (16) provided on or in the panel component (12)
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle having at least one roof rail and window, the window connected to the roof rail, and a roof module for forming a vehicle roof of the motor vehicle. The roof module has a frame, connected to or partially forms the one roof rail, a panel component, which at least partially forms a roof skin of the vehicle roof, the roof skin serving as an outer sealing surface of the roof module, and which is connected to the roof module frame, an environment sensor configured to send and/or receive electromagnetic signals through a panel see-through area in the panel component so as to detect a vehicle environment, and a cleaning feature which has at least one cleaning nozzle and is configured to clean the see-through area. The at least one window and the roof module frame and/or the panel component overlap so that an installation space is formed.