Vehicle Sensor Cleaning Manifold Elastic Interlock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Motor vehicle detection systems, particularly those with laser detection systems, face operational disruptions due to fouling from dirty water or dust, which requires effective cleaning of complex optical surfaces to maintain functionality.
Innovation Solution
A compact cleaning device with a delivery manifold and conveying body featuring an elastic interlocking assembly and foolproofing mechanism for secure attachment, allowing uniform fluid distribution and easy assembly, ensuring effective cleaning of optical surfaces despite complex geometries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a delivery manifold is designed to adapt to various optical surface geometries, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery manifold is divided into a modular assembly comprising a manifold body, a coupling portion, and an attachment means system. This segmentation allows the coupling portion to be detached and reattached to different conveying bodies, enabling adaptation to various optical surface geometries while keeping each individual component relatively simple in structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling portion with its standardized attachment means (elastic interlocking assembly with foolproofing mechanism) serves as a universal interface that can connect to multiple different conveying bodies. This universal coupling design allows the same delivery manifold to be reused across different cleaning applications with varying optical surface requirements.
2Ease of manufacture
If the attachment mechanism between delivery manifold and conveying body is simplified for easy assembly, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability of angular mounting decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment means incorporates an elastic interlocking assembly with foolproofing elements that automatically guide and constrain the coupling portion to the correct angular position during assembly. The elastic elements provide self-aligning forces that ensure proper orientation without requiring complex external positioning devices or manual adjustment, thus maintaining both ease of assembly and mounting reliability.
3Ease of operation
If the cleaning device is designed for compact size, then the ease of operation is improved, but the ability to cover large optical surfaces decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment means enables the delivery manifold to be dynamically repositioned and reattached at different angular orientations relative to the conveying body. This dynamic reconfigurability allows a compact delivery manifold design to cover different areas of large optical surfaces by adjusting its mounting angle, effectively extending its coverage capability without increasing its physical size.
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 ensures reliable and reproducible cleaning of detection system optical surfaces, maintaining system functionality by preventing fouling and ensuring uniform fluid distribution, even on curved surfaces, thus enhancing the reliability of driving assistance systems.
Implementation Method 1
the attachment means comprise an elastic interlocking assembly and a foolproofing assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning device (100), intended to spray at least one fluid towards a surface to be cleaned of a motor vehicle, such as an optical surface of a sensor of an optical detection system, said cleaning device comprising at least one conveying body (1) and a delivery ramp (2) for delivering one or more cleaning and/or drying fluids, and attachment means (101) for attaching a connecting portion (20) of the delivery ramp (2) to an end of the conveying body (1). The attachment means (101) comprise an elastic interlocking assembly (102) and a foolproofing assembly (103) formed respectively by elements carried by the conveying body (1) and complementary elements.