Vehicle Sensor Cleaning Air Path for Freeze-Free Fluid Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle cleaning devices are inefficient and costly, requiring multiple components and separate systems for delivering cleaning liquids and ambient air, which can lead to freezing and biomass formation in fluid paths, and do not effectively cater to the needs of semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles with multiple sensors.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device that uses a compressor stage to feed pressurized ambient air to both the cleaning liquid tank and fluid distribution system, eliminating the need for additional pumps and simplifying control, while using filtered and preheated vehicle interior air to prevent freezing and promote drying, and incorporating a multi-way valve for adjustable airflow to enhance cleaning liquid delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate pumps and systems are used for delivering cleaning liquids and ambient air, then the cleaning device can effectively clean sensors, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of delivering cleaning liquid and ambient air into a single integrated system. The cleaning liquid tank and fluid distribution device are fluidically connected to the air path, allowing pressurized air to deliver cleaning liquid through the same distribution network. This merging eliminates the need for separate pumps and systems while maintaining effective sensor cleaning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The air path serves multiple functions: it delivers pressurized ambient air directly for drying sensors, delivers pressurized cleaning liquid through the fluid distribution device, and prevents freezing by providing warm air. This multi-functional design reduces component count while maintaining comprehensive cleaning effectiveness.
2Reliability
If filtered and preheated vehicle interior air is used, then freezing is prevented, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the vehicle's existing HVAC system to provide filtered and preheated air. By utilizing the vehicle's own climate control infrastructure, the patent avoids adding separate heating and filtration components, thereby preventing freezing while minimizing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle's HVAC system serves dual purposes: it provides climate control for the passenger compartment and simultaneously provides filtered, preheated air for the sensor cleaning system. This multi-use approach prevents freezing without requiring dedicated heating and filtration components for the cleaning system.
3Ease of operation
If multiple separate systems are used for cleaning fluid delivery and air supply, then precise control is achieved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control systems for cleaning liquid delivery and air supply into a single integrated control architecture. The fluid distribution device and air path are controlled together, reducing the number of separate control components needed while maintaining precise control over the cleaning process.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system uses a single control mechanism to manage multiple functions: delivering cleaning liquid, supplying ambient air for drying, and preventing freezing. This universal control approach reduces component count and manufacturing cost while maintaining operational precision.
4Productivity
If ambient air is used to dry and defrost cleaning points, then the range of cleaning fluid delivery is increased, but the risk of biomass formation in fluid paths increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic pulsing of pressurized air through the fluid paths to prevent biomass formation. By intermittently flushing the fluid distribution device and paths with high-velocity air, the system maintains cleanliness without requiring continuous treatment, thereby extending the effective range of cleaning fluid delivery while preventing biological contamination.
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 reduces the number of components, lowers costs, prevents freezing and biomass formation, and increases the range of cleaning liquid delivery, making it more efficient and cost-effective for cleaning multiple sensors on autonomous vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
A compressed air source, in particular a compressor stage (2), for drawing in and conveying the ambient air and pressurizing the air path (LP)
Implementation Method 2
The use of such preheated and filtered vehicle interior air or warm air has the advantage of preventing the cleaning fluid from freezing at the respective cleaning point
Implementation Method 3
For fluid lines arranged downstream of the fluid distribution device and carrying or conducting ambient air and/or cleaning fluid, which lead to the individual cleaning points, the respective fluid path or air and fluid path previously flowed through by the cleaning fluid is dried or blown free by the ambient air flowing through
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a cleaning device (2) for a vehicle, by means of which cleaning device at least one cleaning point can be cleaned as needed and selectively by means of pressurized cleaning liquid and/or pressurized ambient air, comprising: an air path (LP, LPI, LPII), which feeds the pressurized ambient air selectively to a cleaning liquid tank (6) and/or to a fluid distribution apparatus (10), the fluid distribution apparatus (10) being fluidically connected to the cleaning point (12, 13, 14), the cleaning liquid tank (6) being fluidically connected to the fluid distribution apparatus (10) for the pre-conveyance of the pressurized cleaning liquid into the fluid distribution apparatus by means of a liquid path (FP), and a compressed-air source for pressurizing the air path (LP, LPI, LPII). The invention further relates to a vehicle having a cleaning device of this type, to a use of a cleaning device of this type, and to a cleaning method for a vehicle.