Optical Sensor Cleaning Device Piston Slot Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning devices for optical sensors on vehicles face challenges in manufacturing precision due to small component sizes, requiring difficult manufacturing operations and specific rod and end-piece development for each device, and have sealing issues that require replacement of the entire seal if one operational zone degrades.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning device with a mobile piston and rod configuration where passageways for the cleaning fluid are formed on the piston, allowing fluid to flow through slots that are covered or uncovered based on the piston's position, using the fluid pressure to move the piston and incorporating elastic position-return means for efficient fluid distribution and retraction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If slots are formed in the rod to allow cleaning fluid passage, then fluid can be conveyed from intake chamber to distribution orifices, but manufacturing precision is compromised due to small component sizes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid conveyance functionVSAvoidslot sizing precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of forming slots in the rod as in prior art, the patent inverts the approach by forming slots in the piston. This inversion allows the slots to be manufactured with standard precision on a larger component (piston) rather than on the smaller rod, thereby improving manufacturing precision while maintaining the fluid conveyance function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the sealing function from the slot function by using separate sealing elements positioned at different locations. This segmentation allows the slots in the piston to be optimized for fluid flow while sealing elements handle the sealing requirement, improving both manufacturing ease and functional reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If a single seal serves both sealing zones (piston-body and piston-rod interfaces), then device complexity is reduced, but reliability decreases when one zone degrades

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing system complexityVSAvoidsealing system reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by using separate sealing elements for the piston-body interface and piston-rod interface. This allows each seal to be optimized for its specific sealing zone and enables independent replacement, improving reliability while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular sealing design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If cleaning fluid enters en masse when slots are uncovered, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but control over spray timing and fluid distribution is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidfluid spray control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses multiple slots instead of a single large opening, allowing partial fluid passage that can be progressively controlled as the piston moves. This provides better control over fluid distribution timing and rate while maintaining effective cleaning through cumulative fluid delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 design simplifies manufacturing by allowing standard component production, reduces after-sales maintenance, and ensures effective fluid distribution without impairing sensor operation, while maintaining precision in fluid flow and deployment timing.

Implementation Method 1

the pressure of the cleaning fluid admitted to the cylinder to drive the movement of the piston toward its cleaning position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

sliding takes place sealingly, which means to say that the position of the piston completely covers the slots formed in the thickness of the rod. The fluid present in the chamber is unable to enter the slots because of the position of the mobile piston, and of an associated sealing element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSealing:

Data Source

PatentUS10919500B2Device for cleaning an optical sensor of an optical detection system for a motor vehicle

Publication Date: 2021.02.16 VALEO SYST DESSUYAGE SAS

AI summary

The invention relates to a cleaning device (100) intended for spraying at least one fluid onto a surface to be cleaned of a motor vehicle, such as an optical sensor of an optical detection system, in which a movable piston (3), sliding inside a hollow body (1) about a stationary rod extending along a longitudinal axis (X) and carrying a cleaning fluid distribution element (8, 9) at one end, allows a fluid to be conveyed towards the distribution element (8, 9) via passage channels (12) arranged between the piston and the rod and having different axial dimensions.