Vehicle Sensor Cleaning Tank Using Shared Gas-Liquid Pressurization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning devices for vehicle sensors and cameras are complex, costly, and not adaptable to specific needs for removing contaminants and weather conditions, leading to inefficient cleaning of surfaces like LiDAR sensors.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with a tank containing gas and washing liquid, pressurized by a gas pressurizing means located within the tank, allowing direct access to the gas volume, eliminating the need for a washing liquid pressurizing pump, and featuring nozzles for spraying or blowing gas/washing liquid independently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a complex cleaning device with separate gas tank and washing liquid tank is used, then the cleaning function is provided, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the gas storage and washing liquid storage into a single tank structure, where the gas phase and liquid phase coexist in the same container. This merging eliminates the need for separate gas tanks and washing liquid tanks, reducing device complexity while maintaining the dual-functionality of providing both gas flow and washing liquid spray for cleaning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The single tank serves multiple functions: it stores both gas and washing liquid, acts as a pressurization chamber, and provides a common source for both gas outlets and washing liquid outlets. This multi-functional design reduces the overall number of components needed while maintaining comprehensive cleaning capabilities.
2Ease of operation
If a washing liquid pressurizing pump is used, then the washing liquid can be sprayed effectively, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the compressed gas already present in the tank to automatically pressurize and spray the washing liquid through the same gas pressure that drives the gas outlets. The gas pressure serves dual purposes: providing gas flow for drying/cleaning and simultaneously pressurizing the washing liquid for spray delivery, eliminating the need for a separate electric pump.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic pressure from the compressed gas to drive both the gas flow and the washing liquid spray. The gas pressure is transmitted through the system to force washing liquid through outlets, using gas pressure rather than mechanical pumping to achieve liquid delivery.
3Productivity
If a cleaning device adapted to specific contaminant needs is used, then the cleaning effectiveness improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows dynamic selection and independent control of different outlet types (gas outlets and washing liquid outlets) based on the specific cleaning needs. Users can activate only the required outlets for each cleaning situation, enabling adaptation to different contaminants and weather conditions without requiring a complex fixed system for every possible scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables changing the operational parameters by selectively activating different outlets and adjusting the ratio of gas flow to washing liquid spray. This allows the same basic device to adapt to various cleaning requirements by modifying which outlets are active and in what proportions, rather than requiring different hardware configurations.
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 provides a less complex, cheaper, and flexible cleaning method that effectively removes foreign matter from vehicle surfaces, including sensors and cameras, with improved adaptability to contaminants and weather conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a gas pressurizing means fluidly connected to the gas filling opening and configured to pressurize the tank
Implementation Method 2
a first nozzle configured to spray the washing liquid and/or to blow the gas
Implementation Method 3
a first nozzle configured to spray the washing liquid and/or to blow the gas
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning device on-board of a vehicle, the cleaning device being configured for cleaning a surface of the vehicle, the cleaning device including: a tank configured for containing a gas and a washing liquid, the tank including a gas feed line, a washing liquid feed line, a washing liquid filling opening and a gas filling opening, a gas outlet port and a washing liquid outlet port, a gas pressurizing device fluidly connected to the gas filling opening and configured to pressurize the tank, a first nozzle configured to spray the washing liquid and/or to blow the gas, the first nozzle being fluidly connected to the gas feed line and/or the washing liquid feed line and a first valve fluidly connected to the first nozzle.