Vehicle Sensor Cleaning Chambers for Air Compression Spray
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning devices for vehicle detection systems, such as parking aids and LIDAR systems, face challenges in effectively spraying both liquid and compressed air in confined spaces due to the need for separate air and liquid circuits, which can lead to reduced effectiveness and space constraints.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with a first and second chamber configuration, where one chamber is filled with air and the other with liquid, allowing the volume of one chamber to be varied to compress the air in the other, eliminating the need for a dedicated compressed air source and enabling efficient spraying of both liquid and compressed air.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate air and liquid circuits are used to spray compressed air and liquid on the detection system, then the cleaning device can effectively clean the detection area, but the device complexity increases and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the air circuit and liquid circuit into a single integrated system. The pump can alternatively pump air or liquid through the same circulation circuit, eliminating the need for separate circuits. This reduces device complexity while maintaining cleaning effectiveness, as the unified circuit can handle both air and liquid spraying functions through a single pathway.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump is designed with multi-functionality to alternatively pump both air and liquid through the circulation circuit. This universal component replaces what would traditionally require separate air and liquid pumps, simplifying the overall system architecture while preserving the ability to perform both air drying and liquid cleaning operations on the detection system.
2Volume of moving object
If separate air and liquid circuits are extended with hoses to arrange elements remotely from the detection system, then the device can be arranged in confined spaces, but the spraying effectiveness decreases due to distance
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the air and liquid circuits into a single integrated system with a unified pump and circulation pathway, the patent eliminates the need for separate hose extensions for air and liquid. This allows the cleaning device to be positioned closer to the detection system, maintaining spraying effectiveness while achieving arrangement flexibility in confined vehicle spaces.
3Reliability
If a compressor is used to generate compressed air for the air circuit, then the cleaning device can spray compressed air to evacuate liquid drops, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is designed to alternatively pump air or liquid, serving as a universal fluid handling component. When pumping air, it generates the compressed air flow needed for liquid evacuation without requiring a dedicated compressor. This multi-functional approach maintains liquid evacuation capability while eliminating the complexity and space requirements of a separate air generation system.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump serves dual purposes: it can pump liquid for cleaning the detection area and alternatively pump air to create compressed air flow for evacuating liquid drops. This self-service capability allows the single pump to perform multiple functions that would traditionally require separate dedicated components, reducing overall system 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
This solution allows for a space-saving design that effectively cleans detection systems by using the liquid circuit to spray water or cleaning liquid and the air circuit to evacuate liquids, ensuring optimal operation of detection systems in various weather conditions without obstructing the field of view.
Implementation Method 1
the cleaning device comprises a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber is configured to be filled by one of air and liquid, whereas the second chamber is configured to be filled by the other one of said air and liquid. The total volume of the first and second chambers is fixed, and the cleaning device is configured to vary the volume of one of the first and second chambers so as to change the pressure in the other one of the first and second chambers.
Implementation Method 2
the filling of one chamber by the liquid which leads to the compression of the air inside the other chamber
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cleaning device (1) for a detection system (2) in a vehicle, comprising an air circuit (4) and a liquid circuit (7) configured to spray air and liquid on the detection system (2), the cleaning device (1) comprising a first chamber (6) and a second chamber (9). The first chamber (6) is configured to be filled by one of air and liquid, whereas the second chamber (9) is configured to be filled by the other one of said air and liquid. The total volume of the first and second chambers (6, 9) is fixed, and the cleaning device (1) is configured to vary the volume of one of the first and second chambers (6, 9) so as to change the pressure in the other one of the first and second chambers (6, 9).