Vehicle Sensor Assembly Air Gap Eddies Against Moisture Debris
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Solution Overview
Problem
External sensor assemblies for autonomous vehicles face issues with moisture and debris accumulation due to air intake, which can lead to deterioration of internal components over time, especially when operating at high speeds and in adverse weather conditions.
Innovation Solution
The sensor assembly incorporates a separation gap with air guide structural features that induce eddies in the airflow, reducing the momentum and energy of incoming air, moisture, and debris, thereby minimizing their accumulation on the sealed barrier.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the sensor assembly operates at high speeds and in adverse weather conditions, then the sensing capability and productivity are improved, but moisture and debris accumulation increases leading to component deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful high-velocity airflow into a beneficial force by using air guide structural features to induce eddies that redirect moisture and debris away from internal components. The same airflow that causes contamination is harnessed to create protective eddy currents that prevent accumulation on the sealed barrier and sensor components.
Solution Approach 2:
The air guide structural features act as an intermediary element between the incoming airflow and the internal components. These features modify the airflow characteristics by generating eddies, serving as a mediator that protects the sealed barrier and sensor components from direct exposure to harmful moisture and debris while allowing necessary air intake for cooling and operation.
2Use of energy by moving object
If air intake is increased to support high-speed operation, then the cooling and operational efficiency are improved, but the amount of moisture and debris entering the assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air guide structural features create localized eddies at specific positions within the air intake path. By modifying the airflow characteristics in specific local regions rather than uniformly across the entire intake, the patent achieves effective moisture and debris redirection while maintaining overall cooling efficiency. The eddies are generated at strategic locations where they can intercept contaminants before they reach internal components.
3Reliability
If a sealed barrier is added to protect internal components, then the protection against moisture and debris is improved, but the complexity of the assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air guide structural features are integrated directly into the housing structure of the sensor assembly, merging the airflow management function with the structural housing. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate complex sealing systems and moisture protection mechanisms, as the housing itself performs both structural support and airflow modification functions, thereby protecting internal components without significantly increasing assembly complexity.
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 effectively reduces the amount of air, moisture, and debris reaching the internal components, protecting them from deterioration and ensuring the longevity of the sealed barrier under operational and environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The separation gap may be configured with a set of air guide structural features, to induce formation of eddies from air intake received through the gap inlet, as air from the air intake moves inward towards the sealed barrier
Implementation Method 2
The airflow can thus circulate, with the momentum of the airflow being directionally varied so as to counter the initial momentum of the airflow when it is received in the channels of the separation gap
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor assembly includes a first body that rotates a sensor component about an axis, and a second body coupled to the first body to form a separation gap. The separation gap extends radially inward from a gap inlet to a sealed barrier of the second body. The separation gap may be configured with a set of air guide structural features, to induce formation of eddies from air intake received through the gap inlet, as air from the air intake moves inward towards the sealed barrier.