Rotating Sensor Assembly With Conical Airflow and Water Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle sensors face challenges in maintaining efficient airflow for cooling and water management while accommodating rotational motion, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage from external elements like rain or washer fluid.
Innovation Solution
A sensor assembly design featuring a housing and rotatable cylindrical shell with frustoconical panels and ridges/channels that manage airflow efficiently, directing it for cooling while preventing water ingress, using a pressurized-air source to enhance airflow through controlled outlets and inlets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a rotatable sensor unit is used to improve sensor coverage and positioning, then measurement precision and adaptability are improved, but airflow loss increases and cooling efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A stationary housing acts as an intermediary between the external environment and the rotating sensor unit. The housing contains the airflow inlet and outlet paths, while the sensor unit rotates within this stationary framework. This mediator structure allows the sensor to achieve 360-degree coverage without directly exposing rotating components to external airflow, thereby maintaining cooling efficiency while enabling rotational motion for improved positioning and measurement precision.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the sensor unit rotates freely to enhance coverage, then adaptability is improved, but water ingress risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
A rotating seal mechanism with flexible elements enables the sensor unit to rotate freely for enhanced coverage while maintaining a hermetic barrier against water ingress. The flexible seal accommodates rotational motion without compromising the protective enclosure, allowing the sensor to achieve 360-degree adaptability while preventing harmful water penetration through the rotating interface.
3Temperature
If airflow outlets are positioned close to the rotating sensor unit to improve cooling efficiency, then heat dissipation is improved, but airflow instability increases due to rotational motion
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into a stationary cooling structure and a rotating sensor compartment. The stationary housing contains the airflow inlet and outlet pathways, creating stable, fixed airflow channels that do not rotate with the sensor unit. This segmentation allows the outlet to be positioned close to the sensor for improved cooling efficiency while the stationary housing structure maintains airflow stability despite the sensor's rotational motion.
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 design ensures effective cooling and protection of sensor components by minimizing airflow loss and preventing water ingress, maintaining optimal sensor performance and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
The second frustoconical panel defines an airflow outlet from the housing radially inside the second frustoconical panel relative to the axis. The sensor unit defines an airflow inlet radially inside the lower edge relative to the axis and positioned to receive airflow from the airflow outlet.
Implementation Method 2
A sensor assembly includes a housing and a sensor unit attached to the housing. The sensor unit includes a cylindrical shell defining a vertical axis.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor assembly includes a housing and a sensor unit attached to the housing. The sensor unit includes a cylindrical shell defining a vertical axis and rotatable around the axis relative to the housing. The cylindrical shell extends upward along the axis from a lower edge. The sensor unit includes a first frustoconical panel fixed to the cylindrical shell, centered on the axis, and extending downward and radially outward from the lower edge. The housing includes a second frustoconical panel centered on the axis, defining a gap with the first frustoconical panel, and defining an airflow outlet from the housing radially inside the second frustoconical panel relative to the axis. The sensor unit defines an airflow inlet radially inside the lower edge relative to the axis and positioned to receive airflow from the airflow outlet. At least one of the frustoconical panels includes a ridge extending into the gap.