Vehicle Sensor Cleaning with Air-Driven Liquid Conveyance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor cleaning devices for vehicles are complex, costly, and inefficient in terms of energy utilization and fluid management, requiring additional pumps and separate storage vessels for liquids and gases.
Innovation Solution
A sensor cleaning device utilizing a conveyed-volume region where pressurized air directly contacts liquid to convey it to a cleaning port, eliminating the need for separate pumps and separate storage vessels, and using a pneumatic system with non-return valves to control the liquid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate pumps and storage vessels are used for liquid and gas, then the cleaning function is reliable, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the liquid storage vessel and gas storage vessel into a single common container, eliminating the need for separate pumps and multiple storage vessels. The cleaning liquid and cleaning gas directly adjoin each other in the common container, with the cleaning gas located above the cleaning liquid, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining cleaning functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The common container serves multiple functions: it stores both cleaning liquid and cleaning gas, acts as a pressurization chamber, and eliminates the need for separate pumping systems. This multi-functional design reduces device complexity while ensuring reliable operation through integrated fluid management.
2Device complexity
If a common container is used for cleaning liquid and cleaning gas, then the device complexity is reduced, but the liquid filling becomes problematic due to pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a venting mechanism that activates before liquid filling to release pressure from the common container. This preliminary action ensures the container is in a pressure-free state during filling, making the process safe and straightforward while maintaining the benefits of the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic venting cycles before filling operations. The venting valve is activated at specific intervals or conditions to equalize pressure, creating a favorable state for liquid filling. This periodic pressure management ensures ease of manufacture and filling while preserving the compact integrated structure.
3Use of energy by moving object
If pressurized air is used to convey liquid, then energy efficiency is improved, but the fluid management becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the pressurized cleaning gas already present in the common container to convey the cleaning liquid, eliminating the need for separate pumps or additional energy input. The cleaning gas serves dual purposes: cleaning and liquid conveyance, improving energy efficiency while the integrated design manages fluid dynamics automatically.
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 configuration simplifies the structural design, reduces weight and cost, and enhances energy efficiency by using pressurized air to convey and control the liquid flow, ensuring effective cleaning without continuous liquid consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a conveyed-volume region (110) which is configured to accommodate the liquid, wherein the conveyed-volume region is fluidically connected to the pressurized-air inlet, the liquid inlet and the cleaning port in such a way that the liquid is conveyed in a conveying direction to the cleaning port as a result of the pressurized air being applied to the pressurized-air inlet
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor cleaning device is for a vehicle and configured for cleaning a sensor surface of a sensor. The sensor cleaning device includes: a pressurized-air inlet for receiving pressurized air, a liquid inlet for receiving liquid, a cleaning port for providing the liquid and/or the pressurized air. The sensor cleaning device has a conveyed-volume region, configured to accommodate the liquid, which is fluidically connected to the pressurized-air inlet, the liquid inlet and the cleaning port, such that the liquid is conveyed in a conveying direction to the cleaning port as a result of the pressurized air being applied to the pressurized-air inlet, wherein the conveyed-volume region is realized such that, for the purpose of conveying the liquid, the pressurized air is in contact with the liquid, in particular directly and/or in a pressure-transmitting manner realizing a phase boundary.