Vehicle Sensor Cleaning Fluid Path with Air Purge Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle cleaning devices are inefficient and costly due to the need for separate components and fluid connections for conveying cleaning liquid and ambient air, which can freeze and lead to fouling, and do not effectively manage the increased number of sensors in autonomous vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A pump-compressor stage that selectively conveys both cleaning liquid and ambient air, reducing the number of components by integrating fluid paths and using ambient air to prevent freezing and fouling, with adjustable rotational speed for efficient fluid distribution to multiple cleaning locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate components and fluid connections are used for conveying cleaning liquid and ambient air, then the cleaning device can effectively clean sensor locations, but the device complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate fluid conveying units for cleaning liquid and ambient air into a single integrated pump-compressor stage. This single unit can selectively convey either cleaning liquid or ambient air through shared fluid paths, reducing the number of components while maintaining the ability to effectively clean sensor locations through controlled fluid delivery
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate fluid connections are used for cleaning liquid and ambient air, then each fluid can be delivered independently, but the costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal fluid distribution system where a single pump-compressor stage and shared fluid paths can handle both cleaning liquid and ambient air. Through selective valve control, the system maintains independent delivery capability for both fluids while using a common infrastructure, thereby reducing complexity without sacrificing versatility
3Reliability
If ambient air is used to purge the fluid path, then freezing and fouling are prevented, but the pump-compressor stage must handle both liquid and gas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of cleaning liquid conveyance and ambient air purging into a single pump-compressor stage. The device is designed to handle both liquid and gas phases, using the same fluid paths and distribution system. This integration reduces overall system complexity while maintaining the protective purging function that prevents freezing and fouling of the fluid paths
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 simplifies the cleaning device, reduces costs, and significantly increases the range of cleaning liquid usage while preventing freezing and fouling, making it suitable for autonomous vehicles with multiple sensors.
Implementation Method 1
a pump-compressor stage for selectively sucking up and conveying either the cleaning liquid and/or the ambient air
Implementation Method 2
a fluid path which fluidically connects the pump-compressor stage upstream to a cleaning liquid tank and to an environment of the cleaning device
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning device for a vehicle, with which at least one cleaning location is cleaned with pressurized cleaning liquid and/or pressurized ambient air, is proposed, including: a pump-compressor stage for sucking up and conveying the cleaning liquid and/or the ambient air, a fluid path which fluidically connects the pump-compressor stage upstream to a cleaning liquid tank and to an environment of the cleaning device, and a fluid distribution apparatus downstream of the pump-compressor stage, which is fed with the cleaning liquid and/or the ambient air by the pump-compressor stage, the fluid distribution apparatus being fluidically connected to the cleaning location. A vehicle with such a cleaning device, the first and the second use, and a cleaning method for a vehicle are also proposed.